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 Kovan (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 Kovan. 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 and doctors 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.
Kovan is located in Webster 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 Webster County: Braxton, Greenbrier, Lewis, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Randolph & Upshur.
Below are the counties that are near Kovan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Kovan:
- Webster County (The home county of Kovan)
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Orndoff
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Addison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Ralph
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Big Run
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Hacker Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Excelsior
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Halo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Upperglade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Erbacon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Cleveland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Replete
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Cowen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Welch Glade
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Milroy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Palmer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Palmer is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Corley
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Falls Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
- Little Birch
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Little Birch is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Birch
- Flatwoods
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- McNutt
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- McNutt is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Sutton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bulltown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Heaters
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Napier
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Canfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Knawl
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Knawl is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knawl
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Wattsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wattsville is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsville
- Widen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Widen is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widen
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Duffy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Crawford
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Alkires Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Tioga
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Craigsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Birch River
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Beaver
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Richwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Saxman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Donald
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Muddlety
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Nettie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Odell Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Odell Town is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell Town
- Odell Town has also been known as:
- Odell
- Tolbert
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Tolbert is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolbert
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Slaty Fork
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Edray
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Onoto
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
- Cass
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Marlinton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Buckeye
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sitlington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
- Thorny Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Durbin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hillsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Watoga ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Watoga is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
- Frank
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Frank is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
- Green Bank
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Florence ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Pickens
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Spring
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Monterville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Helvetia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mingo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Valley Head
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Elkwater
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Elkwater is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
- Lee Bell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
- Huttonsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Huff ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Mill Creek
(25 miles [40.2 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
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Goshen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Kanawha Head
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Alexander
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Wilsontown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Rock Cave
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Alton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Beans Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Frenchton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Hoover Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hoover Town is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
- Adrian
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Queens
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Queens is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Tenmile
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tenmile is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Kovan, see our County-by-County Page for Kovan.
Cemeteries Near Kovan ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kovan.
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 Kovan - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Kovan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Fairview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Cutlip Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Laurel Fork Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Adam Miller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Miller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pt. Mountain Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Holly River Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Meadowland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hodam Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lynch Point Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Woods Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Big Run Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (182 more) ...
- Columbus McCourt Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Green Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Old Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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 Kovan in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Kovan.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Kovan, with the one closest to Kovan listed first.
- Jumbo
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Jumbo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumbo
- Bernardstown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bernardstown is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernardstown
- Woodzell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Woodzell is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodzell
- Addison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Ralph
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Diana
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Diana is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diana
- Bergoo
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bergoo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergoo
- Hacker Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pugh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pugh is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pugh
- Halo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Upperglade
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Florence ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Mayton ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mayton is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayton
- Replete
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Pickens
(12 miles [19.3 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 Kovan. See our List of 1890's Communities around Kovan.
Newspapers Published in Kovan ...
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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kovan.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Kovan, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Kovan.
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 helpful 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 Kovan:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Webster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Braxton County
- Clay County
- Lewis County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Randolph County
- Upshur County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | 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 Kovan, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Kovan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |