Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Florence. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Florence to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Florence, please Contact Us.
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 Florence (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 Florence. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Florence is historic, it would have been located within present day Preston 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 Preston County: Garrett (MD), Fayette (PA), Barbour, Grant, Monongalia, Taylor & Tucker.
Below are the counties that are near Florence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Florence:
- Preston County (The home county of Florence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Clifton Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Clifton Mills is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
- Brandonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brandonville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Bruceton Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rockville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rockville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Little Sandy
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Little Sandy is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Sandy
- Morgans Glade
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morgans Glade is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Glade
- Hazelton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lenox
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lenox is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenox
- Masontown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Orr
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Orr is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Albright
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Reedsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Arthurdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Mount Harmony
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Harmony is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Harmony
- Neel ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Neel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Pleasant View
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant View is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Canton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Canton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Rivesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Samaria
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Samaria is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Hoodsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hoodsville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodsville
- Hebron
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Palatine
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Palatine is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palatine
- Grant Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Grant Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Population from the 2020 Census: 590 people
- Barrackville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Barrackville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrackville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,270 people
- Fairmont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Colfax
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colfax is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Monongalia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Cheat Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
- Canyon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Canyon is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
- Brookhaven
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brookhaven is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Baker Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
- Morgantown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Westover
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Star City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Star City is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
- Bowlby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bowlby is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowlby
- Granville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Granville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,156 people
- Maidsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Maidsville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maidsville
- Osage
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Osage is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Laurel Point
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Laurel Point is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Point
- Little Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Thornton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Fetterman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- Grafton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Knottsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- West Grafton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Garrett County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Friendsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Accident
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- McHenry
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hutton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Oakland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,803 people
- Bittinger
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mountain Lake Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Lake Park is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,065 people
- Deer Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Loch Lynn Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Loch Lynn Heights is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lynn Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 525 people
- Grantsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Altamont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
- Red House
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Red House is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red House
- Swanton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fayette County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Elliottsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elliottsville is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
- Haydentown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Haydentown is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydentown
- Smithfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Morris Crossroads
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Morris Crossroads is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Crossroads
- Farmington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Washington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Washington is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Washington
- Point Marion
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hutchinson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hutchinson is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutchinson
- Shoaf
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shoaf is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoaf
- Hopwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leith
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Leith is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leith
- Atlantic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Atlantic is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlantic
- Highhouse
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Highhouse is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highhouse
- Greene County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Dilliner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dilliner is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilliner
- Greensboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dunkard
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dunkard is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkard
- Nemacolin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Nemacolin is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
- Ceylon
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Ceylon is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
- Carmichaels
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cumberland Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cumberland Village is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Fairdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fairdale is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Stringtown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stringtown is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Mount Morris
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Fordyce
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fordyce is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyce
- Khedive
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Khedive is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
- Kirby
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Kirby is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Somerset County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Addison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Ursina
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Ursina is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursina
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Confluence
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Listonburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Listonburg is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Listonburg
- Draketown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Draketown is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draketown
- Markleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Casselman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Casselman is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casselman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- New Lexington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- New Lexington is located in Somerset County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Lexington
- Washington County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Blainsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Blainsburg is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsburg
- Fredericktown - Millsboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Millsboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Brownsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- West Brownsville is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brownsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- California
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Coal Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Daisytown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Deemston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Deemston is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deemston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 696 people
- Allenport
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elco
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elco is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elco
- Population from the 2020 Census: 305 people
- Speers
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Speers is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speers
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,061 people
- Stockdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Centerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Centerville is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,133 people
- Westmoreland County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Scottdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hawkeye
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hawkeye is located in Westmoreland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkeye
- Iron Bridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Iron Bridge is located in Westmoreland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Bridge
- West Overton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- West Overton is located in Westmoreland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Overton
- Alverton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Alverton is located in Westmoreland County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alverton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Florence, see our County-by-County Page for Florence.
Cemeteries Near Florence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Florence.
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 Florence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Florence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- East View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Fair View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Visitation Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fletcher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Van Sickle Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blaney Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Donaldson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Baker Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Zion Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (380 more) ...
- Fairchance Veterans Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- St. Josephs Cemetery (Fairchance)
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
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.
While we didn't find Florence in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Florence.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Pisgah
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pisgah is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Bruceton Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brandonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brandonville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Clifton Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Clifton Mills is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton Mills
- Rockville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Rockville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Hudson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Hudson is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Gibbon Glade
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gibbon Glade is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibbon Glade
- Elliottsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Elliottsville is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
- Haydentown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Haydentown is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydentown
- Valley Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Valley Point is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Point
- Morgans Glade
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Morgans Glade is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgans Glade
- Smithfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Glade Farms
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Glade Farms is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade Farms
- Morris Crossroads
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Morris Crossroads is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Crossroads
- Oliphant Furnace
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Oliphant Furnace is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oliphant Furnace
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Florence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Florence.
Newspapers Published in Florence ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Florence.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Florence, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Florence.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Florence:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Preston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Marion County
- Monongalia County
- Taylor County
- Garrett County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Somerset County
- Washington County
- Westmoreland County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Florence, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Florence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |