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Home >> State of West Virginia >> McDowell County >> Isaban >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Isaban (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 Isaban. 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 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.

Isaban is primarily located in McDowell County. A portion of Isaban extends into Mingo 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 McDowell County: Buchanan (VA), Tazewell (VA), Mercer, Mingo & Wyoming.

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

  • McDowell County     (The home county of Isaban)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Wyoming City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Wyoming City is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
    • Panther
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Panther is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Iaeger
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Iaeger is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iaeger
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
    • Union City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Union City is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
    • Wilmore
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilmore is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmore
    • Avondale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Avondale is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
    • Big Sandy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Big Sandy is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
    • Roderfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Roderfield is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roderfield
    • Davy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Davy is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 324 people
    • Bradshaw
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Jackson Flats
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
    • Paynesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Paynesville is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Rocklick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Rocklick is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocklick
    • Greenwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenwood is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Stark
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Stark is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
    • Bald Knob
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bald Knob is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bald Knob
    • Barrett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Barrett is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
    • Pondco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Pondco is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pondco
    • Bim
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Bim is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bim
    • Clothier
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Clothier is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clothier
    • Hewett
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Hewett is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewett
    • Ottawa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Ottawa is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
    • Bob White
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Bob White is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bob White
    • Cazy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Cazy is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cazy
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Wylo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Wylo is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wylo
    • Mallory
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Mallory is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallory
    • Man
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Man is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Man
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Man <1>
    • Mineral City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Mineral City is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
    • Stirrat
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Stirrat is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stirrat
    • Kistler
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Kistler is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kistler
    • Accoville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Accoville is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Accoville
    • Omar
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Braeholm
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Braeholm is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braeholm
    • Switzer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Switzer is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
    • Whitman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Wilkinson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
  • Mingo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Baisden
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Gilbert Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Gilbert Creek is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert Creek
    • Wharncliffe
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Gilbert
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Pie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Pie is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
    • Musick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Musick is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
    • Thacker
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Thacker is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
    • Matewan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Red Jacket
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Red Jacket is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
    • Blackberry City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Blackberry City is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
    • Sprigg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Sprigg is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
    • Delbarton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Raleigh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Bolt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bolt is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolt
    • Redbird
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Redbird is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbird
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Cub City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cub City is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cub City
    • Uno
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Uno is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uno
    • Baileysville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Baileysville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileysville
    • Sun Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Sun Hill is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
    • Stoneville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Stoneville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
    • Clear Fork
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Clear Fork is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Fork
    • Fanny
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Fanny is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fanny
    • Woosley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Woosley is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woosley
    • Wyoming
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Wyoming is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
    • Mullensville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Mullensville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullensville
    • Oceana
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Turkey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Turkey is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
  • Pike County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Majestic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Majestic is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
    • Stopover
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Stopover is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stopover
    • Paw Paw
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
    • Freeburn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Freeburn is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburn
    • Phelps
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Buskirk
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Buskirk is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buskirk
    • Coleman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Coleman is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • McCarr
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Ransom
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Ransom is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
    • Calloway Branch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Calloway Branch is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calloway Branch
    • Hardy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Hardy is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy
    • McVeigh
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • McVeigh is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McVeigh
  • Buchanan County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Kelsa
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Kelsa is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
    • Jackson Flats
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
    • Paynesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Paynesville is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
    • Matney
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Matney is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
    • Height
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Height is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
    • Peapatch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Peapatch is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
    • Big Rock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Big Rock is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
    • Grundy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Grundy is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grundy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 883 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Grundy <1>
    • Bearwallow
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Bearwallow is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
    • Janey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Janey is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Janey
    • Royal City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Royal City is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
    • Mavisdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Mavisdale is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavisdale
  • Tazewell County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isaban, with the one closest to Isaban listed first.
    • Harman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Harman is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harman
    • Red Ash
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Red Ash is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Ash
    • Bishop
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bishop is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Dunford Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Dunford Village is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunford Village
    • Sayersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sayersville is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sayersville
    • Shraders
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Shraders is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shraders
    • Raven
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Raven is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raven
    • Richlands
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Abbs Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Abbs Valley is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley

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

Cemeteries Near Isaban ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Isaban.

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

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

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

  • Bailey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cline Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Lockhart Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Oak Log Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Ritchie & Cline Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Rex Cline Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Star Hollow Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Sullivan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mounts Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Bailey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Lester Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (513 more) ...
    • Buchanan Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Bailey Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Stacy Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

While we didn't find Isaban in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Isaban.

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

  • North Spring
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • North Spring is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Spring
  • Hanover
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hanover is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
  • Iaeger
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Iaeger is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iaeger
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
  • Lincoln
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lincoln is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
  • Christian
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Christian is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christian
  • Baileysville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Baileysville is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileysville
  • Sun Hill
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Sun Hill is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
  • Paw Paw
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
  • Bradshaw
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Jamboree
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Jamboree is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamboree
  • Man
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Man is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Man
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Man <1>
  • Phelps
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Oilville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Oilville is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilville
    • Coleman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Coleman is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Oceana
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Isaban ...

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 Isaban.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Isaban, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Isaban.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Isaban:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Isaban, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Isaban) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.