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 Ellison Ridge (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 Ellison Ridge. 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 Ellison Ridge ...
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 Ellison Ridge: Ellison Rdg. (or less commonly used: Ellison Rdge. or Ellison Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Ellison Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Ellison Ridge.
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.
Ellison Ridge is located in Summers 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 Summers County: Giles (VA), Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe & Raleigh.
Below are the counties that are near Ellison Ridge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ellison Ridge:
- Summers County (The home county of Ellison Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Pipestem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- True
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- True is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
- Jumping Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jumping Branch is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumping Branch
- Nimitz
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nimitz is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimitz
- Packs Ferry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Packs Ferry is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
- Bellepoint
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bellepoint is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellepoint
- Brooklin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brooklin is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklin
- Hinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Buck
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Buck is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
- Forest Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Hilldale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hilldale is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Prince
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Quinnimont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Quinnimont is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinnimont
- McKendree
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- McKendree is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKendree
- Kilsyth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kilsyth is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilsyth
- Mount Hope
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Meadow Bridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Meadow Bridge is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Bridge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 344 people
- Alaska ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Alaska is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alaska
- Sewell Knob ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sewell Knob is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell Knob
- Sewell Knob has also been known as:
- Swell Knob
- Stonecliff ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Stonecliff is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonecliff
- Stonecliff has also been known as:
- Stone Cliff
- White Oak Junction
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- White Oak Junction is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak Junction
- Spring Dale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Dale is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Dale
- Harvey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Harvey is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvey
- Greenbrier County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Alderson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Vale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vale is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vale
- Frazier
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Frazier is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frazier
- Fort Spring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fort Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Spring
- Rockland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rockland is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Logan County
- Rich Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rich Creek is located in Logan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- McDowell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Northfork
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Elkhorn is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
- Keystone
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kyle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Kyle is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyle
- Anawalt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Anawalt is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anawalt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Kimball
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Big Four
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Big Four is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Four
- Thorpe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thorpe is located in McDowell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorpe
- Mercer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Athens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Elgood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Elgood is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
- Lashmeet
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lashmeet is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lashmeet
- Princeton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Matoaka
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Matoaka is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matoaka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
- Johnston Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Johnston Town is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnston Town
- Weyanoke
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Weyanoke is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weyanoke
- Oakvale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Willowton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Willowton is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
- East River ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- East River is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- El Centro ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- El Centro is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Centro
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Ballard
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ballard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
- Peterstown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wayside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Wayside is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Assurance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Creamery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Creamery is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Wikel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
- Wolfcreek
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wolfcreek is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfcreek
- Union
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Union is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
- Hillsdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Hillsdale is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Raleigh County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Shady Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Coal City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Coal City is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
- Princewick
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Princewick is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princewick
- Daniels
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sullivan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sullivan is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Tilden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tilden is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
- Beaver
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pemberton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pemberton is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pemberton
- Clifftop
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Clifftop is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifftop
- Raleigh
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Raleigh is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh
- Eastgulf
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Eastgulf is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastgulf
- Rhodell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Rhodell is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Wyoming County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Bud
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bud is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bud
- Mullens
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Keyrock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Keyrock is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyrock
- Pineville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rock View
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rock View is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock View
- Mullensville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mullensville is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullensville
- Turkey
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Turkey is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
- Woosley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Woosley is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woosley
- Wyoming
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wyoming is located in Wyoming County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Bland County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Round Bottom
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Round Bottom is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Rocky Gap
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Hicksville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Bastian
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mechanicsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Giles County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Glen Lyn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Lyn is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Lurich
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lurich is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
- Rich Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Shumate
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Shumate is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Narrows
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Pearisburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Thessalia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Pembroke
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Kire
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Kire is located in Giles County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kire
- Eggleston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tazewell County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Pocahontas
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
- Yards
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Yards is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
- Bluefield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Falls Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
- Boissevain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Boissevain is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boissevain
- Saint Clair
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ellison Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Ellison Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Ellison Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ellison Ridge.
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 Ellison Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ellison Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Hatcher Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hatcher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dunns Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Meador Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Camp Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lilly Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lilly - Crews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly - Crews Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lilly - Crews Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the south of Nimitz.
- The Lilly - Crews Cemetery has also been known as:
- Crews Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1960819 <3>
- Farley Farm Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farley Farm Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Farley Farm Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the southeast of Pipestem.
- The Farley Farm Cemetery has also been known as:
- Archibald & Jermima Farley Cemetery
- Snider Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Williams Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Barton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Russ Lilly Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (435 more) ...
- Crook Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brammer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Restwood Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Ellison Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ellison Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ellison Ridge, with the one closest to Ellison Ridge listed first.
- Dunns
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Dunns is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunns
- Ellison
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Ellison is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellison
- Flat Top
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pipestem
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- True
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- True is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
- Jumping Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jumping Branch is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumping Branch
- Warford ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Warford is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warford
- Packs Ferry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Packs Ferry is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
- Odd
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Odd is located in Raleigh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odd
- Egeria
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Egeria is located in Mercer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egeria
- Shady Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Spanishburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Hinton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
- Crumps Bottom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Crumps Bottom is located in Summers County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumps Bottom
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ellison Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ellison Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Ellison Ridge ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ellison Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ellison Ridge, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ellison Ridge.
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 Ellison Ridge:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Summers County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Greenbrier County
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Raleigh County
- Wyoming County
- Bland County
- Giles County
- Tazewell 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Ellison Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Ellison Ridge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |