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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Florence is historic, it would have been located within present day Randolph 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 Randolph County: Barbour, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Tucker, Upshur & Webster.
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:
- Randolph County (The home county of Florence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Pickens
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Helvetia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Monterville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Elkwater
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Elkwater is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
- Lee Bell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
- Valley Head
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huttonsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mingo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Huff ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Mill Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Cassity
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Midvale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Midvale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Junior
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Junior is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Audra
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Audra is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Audra
- Wilmoth ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
- Clements ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Clements is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
- Belington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Milroy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Falls Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
- Palmer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Palmer is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Bulltown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Knawl
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Knawl is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knawl
- Corley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Napier
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Flatwoods
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Heaters
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- McNutt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- McNutt is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Orlando
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Orlando is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Rollyson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rollyson is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollyson
- Sutton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Duffy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Crawford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Alkires Mills
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Garton Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Aberdeen
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Aberdeen is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
- Berlin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Berlin is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Cox Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cox Town is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
- Weston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Tioga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Birch River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Slaty Fork
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Durbin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Frank
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Frank is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
- Cass
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Wildell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wildell is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildell
- Arbovale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Green Bank
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sitlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
- Thornwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Thornwood is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornwood
- Edray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Onoto
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
- Thorny Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Marlinton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Goshen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Alexander
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Kanawha Head
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Alton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Beans Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Wilsontown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Queens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Queens is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Rock Cave
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Tenmile
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Tenmile is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Hoover Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Hoover Town is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
- Frenchton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Adrian
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Hacker Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cleveland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Orndoff
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Ralph
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Big Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Replete
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Addison
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Excelsior
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Erbacon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Halo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Upperglade
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Cowen
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Welch Glade
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
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.
- Pickens Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hicks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Helvetia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Old Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ross Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vance Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Laurel Fork Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Dale Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cowger Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Stainaker Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brooks Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (177 more) ...
- Rice Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gregory Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Hodam Creek Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
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.
Florence itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
- Pickens
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Helvetia
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mayton ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mayton is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayton
- Selbyville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Selbyville is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selbyville
- Monterville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Canaan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Palace Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Palace Valley is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palace Valley
- Woodzell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Woodzell is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodzell
- Blue Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Alexander
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Hacker Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Jumbo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jumbo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Hemlock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hemlock is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Pugh
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pugh is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pugh
- Bernardstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bernardstown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernardstown
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 1 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 15 miles [24.1 km]<3>. 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 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 Florence:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Braxton County
- Lewis County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Upshur County
- Webster 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> | 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- Florence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |