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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 Goodwin (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 Goodwin. 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.

Goodwin is located in Upshur 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 Upshur County: Barbour, Harrison, Lewis, Randolph & Webster.

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

  • Upshur County     (The home county of Goodwin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Sand Run
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Sand Run is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Run
    • Tallmansville
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Overhill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Overhill is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overhill
    • Excelsior
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Excelsior is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
    • Sago
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Sago is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sago
    • Gormley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Gormley is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormley
    • Reger
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Reger is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reger
    • Tenmile
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Tenmile is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
    • Sellers ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Sellers is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
    • Buckhannon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Queens
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Queens is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
    • Beans Mill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
    • Adrian
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Adrian is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
  • Barbour County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Audra
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Audra is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Audra
    • Junior
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Junior is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
    • Clements ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clements is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
    • Tygart Junction
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Tygart Junction is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tygart Junction
    • Wilmoth ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
    • Belington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Union
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Union is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Valley Bend
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Calhoun
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Calhoun is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
    • Elk City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Elk City is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
    • Wellington Heights
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Wellington Heights is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington Heights
    • Philippi
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Huffman ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Huffman is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
  • Braxton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Knawl
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Knawl is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knawl
    • Milroy
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Milroy is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
    • Falls Mill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
    • Orlando
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Orlando is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
    • Bulltown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bulltown is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
    • Napier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Napier is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
    • Corley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Corley is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
    • Burnsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Rollyson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Rollyson is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollyson
    • Heaters
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Flatwoods
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Palmer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Palmer is located in Braxton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
  • Doddridge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Big Isaac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Big Isaac is located in Doddridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Isaac
    • Coldwater
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Coldwater is located in Doddridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
  • Gilmer County
    • Stouts Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
  • Harrison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • McWhorter
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • McWhorter is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWhorter
    • Craigmoor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Craigmoor is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigmoor
    • Lost Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Lost Creek is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
    • Quiet Dell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Quiet Dell is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quiet Dell
    • Anmoore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Stonewood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Stonewood is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,702 people
    • West Milford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • West Milford is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 609 people
    • Nutter Fort
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Nutter Fort is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutter Fort
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,501 people
    • Tichenal
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Tichenal is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tichenal
    • Bridgeport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Despard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Despard is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Despard
    • Clarksburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Adamston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Adamston is located in Harrison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamston
  • Lewis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Aberdeen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Aberdeen is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
    • Berlin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Berlin is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
    • Garton Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Garton Village is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
    • Crawford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Crawford is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
    • Alkires Mills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
    • Duffy
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Duffy is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
    • Jane Lew
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Smith Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Smith Village is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Village
    • Weston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Cox Town
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Cox Town is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
    • Lightburn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lightburn is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightburn
    • Westfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Westfield is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
    • Valley Chapel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pocahontas County
    • Wildell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Wildell is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildell
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Midvale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Midvale is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
    • Cassity
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cassity is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
    • Womelsdorf
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Womelsdorf is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womelsdorf
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 235 people
    • Weaver
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Weaver is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
    • Tigheville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Tigheville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigheville
    • Huff ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Huff is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
    • Helvetia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Beverly
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Elkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Leadsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Leadsville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadsville
    • Mill Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
    • Gilman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Gilman is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
    • Huttonsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Taylor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Astor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Astor is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
    • Flemington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Flemington is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
    • Brydon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Brydon is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
    • Stone House ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Stone House is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
    • Sandy ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Sandy is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
    • Webster
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Webster is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
    • Yates ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Yates is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
    • Knottsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Knottsville is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
    • Pruntytown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Pruntytown is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruntytown
    • Fetterman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Fetterman is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
    • Grafton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Oreide
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Oreide is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oreide
    • West Grafton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • West Grafton is located in Taylor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
  • Tucker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Pleasant Run
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Pleasant Run is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
    • Porterwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Porterwood is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterwood
    • Parsons
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hambleton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Hambleton is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambleton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
    • Hendricks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Hendricks is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Goodwin, with the one closest to Goodwin listed first.
    • Cleveland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Hacker Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Replete
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Replete is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
    • Big Run
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Big Run is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
    • Orndoff
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Orndoff is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff

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

Cemeteries Near Goodwin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Goodwin.

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 Goodwin - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Reed Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Bailey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Westfall Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Heavner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Tenmile Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Upshur County Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Hampton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Hampton Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the south of Buckhannon.
    • The Hampton Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Hampton UMC Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2176771 <3>
  • Lanham Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Buckhannon Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (269 more) ...

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 Goodwin in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Goodwin.

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

  • Tallmansville
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Sand Run
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Sand Run is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Run
  • Ivy
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Ivy is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivy
  • Kedron
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Kedron is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kedron
  • Overhill
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Overhill is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overhill
  • Sago
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Sago is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sago
  • Sellers ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Sellers is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
  • Middle Fork ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Middle Fork is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middle Fork
  • Hampton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Hampton is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
  • Queens
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Queens is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
  • Buckhannon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hinkleville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Hinkleville is located in Upshur County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkleville
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Kingsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Kingsville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsville
    • French Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Evergreen
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Evergreen is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen

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

Newspapers Published in Goodwin ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Goodwin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Goodwin, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Goodwin.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Goodwin:

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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Goodwin) 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 Goodwin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.