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 Odessa (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 Odessa. 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 doctors 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.
Odessa is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Braxton, Calhoun, Kanawha, Nicholas & Roane.
Below are the counties that are near Odessa. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Odessa:
- Clay County (The home county of Odessa)
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Bomont
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bomont is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bomont
- Porter
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Porter is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Elkhurst
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Elkhurst is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhurst
- Procious
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Hartland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hartland is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartland
- Clay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Valley Fork
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Spread
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spread is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread
- Gould
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gould is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
- Dink
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dink is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dink
- Swandale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Swandale is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swandale
- Harrison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Ira
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ira is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ira
- Boone County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Comfort
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joes Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Joes Creek is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joes Creek
- Bloomingrose
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bloomingrose is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomingrose
- Eden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eden is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Sharlow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sharlow is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharlow
- Ashford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coopertown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Coopertown is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopertown
- Dartmont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dartmont is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dartmont
- Fosterville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fosterville is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
- Kirbyton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kirbyton is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirbyton
- Racine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Racine is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Racine
- Rumble
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rumble is located in Boone County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumble
- Seth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Elmira
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Elmira is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmira
- Strange Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Strange Creek is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strange Creek
- Clem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clem is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clem
- Sleith ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sleith is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sleith
- Herold
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Herold is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herold
- Rockton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rockton is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockton
- Frametown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Frametown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frametown
- Wilsie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wilsie is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsie
- Twistville ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Twistville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twistville
- Canfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Canfield is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
- Little Birch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Little Birch is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Birch
- Gassaway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Progress ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Progress is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Oka
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Oka is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oka
- Mudfork
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mudfork is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mudfork
- Stinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Stinson is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stinson
- Losie ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Losie is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Losie
- Walnut
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut
- Beech
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Beech is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
- Gomez ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gomez is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gomez
- Orma
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Orma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orma
- Pink
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Pink is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pink
- Arnoldsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Arnoldsburg is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnoldsburg
- Rocksdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rocksdale is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocksdale
- Hur
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hur is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hur
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Cannelton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cannelton is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannelton
- Montgomery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Smithers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Crescent
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Crescent is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
- Gauley Bridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Romont
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Romont is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romont
- Mount Carbon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mount Carbon is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carbon
- Falls View
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Falls View is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls View
- Kimberly
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Kimberly is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberly
- Leander
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Leander is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
- Ansted
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Elliot ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elliot is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot
- Mulvane ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mulvane is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mulvane
- Gilmer County
- Shock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shock is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shock
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Romance
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Romance is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romance
- Fletcher
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Fletcher is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Kentuck
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kentuck is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Kenna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Aplin ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Aplin is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aplin
- Statts Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Statts Mills is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Statts Mills
- Kanawha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Apgah ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Apgah is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apgah
- Clendenin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Reamer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Reamer is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reamer
- Wellford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wellford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellford
- Coco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Coco is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coco
- Falling Rock
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Falling Rock is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Rock
- Three Mile
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Three Mile is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Mile
- Youngs Bottom
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Youngs Bottom is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs Bottom
- Elkview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Jarretts Ford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Jarretts Ford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarretts Ford
- Pinch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pinch is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinch
- Wills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wills is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wills
- Aarons
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Aarons is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aarons
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Dixie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dixie is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Beech Glen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Beech Glen is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Glen
- Tipton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tipton is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tipton
- Albion ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Albion is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
- Zela
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Zela is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zela
- Keslers Cross Lanes
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Keslers Cross Lanes is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keslers Cross Lanes
- Muddlety
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Muddlety is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muddlety
- Morrison ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Morrison is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Summersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Birch River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Runa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Runa is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runa
- Donald
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Liberty
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Sigman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sigman is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigman
- Roane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Pigeon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Kester ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Kester is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kester
- Looneyville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mattie ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mattie is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Walton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Roxalana
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Roxalana is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxalana
- Rushville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Rushville is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
- Cicerone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cicerone is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cicerone
- Woodyard ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Woodyard is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodyard
- Graux
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Graux is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graux
- Zona
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Zona is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zona
- Spencer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Flint Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Flint Town is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Town
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Odessa, see our County-by-County Page for Odessa.
Cemeteries Near Odessa ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Odessa.
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 Odessa - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Odessa covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Hinkle Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- White Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Samples Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dulls Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Harper Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Smith Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Harper Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Davis Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pierson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Ryder Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryder Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Ryder Cemetery is located 7 miles [11.3 km]<2> to the east of Pinch.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #79780 <3>
- O Dell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Naylor Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (578 more) ...
- Tanner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Knob Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Thompson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
While we didn't find Odessa in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Odessa.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Odessa, with the one closest to Odessa listed first.
- Apgah ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Apgah is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apgah
- Procious
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Procious is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Procious
- Gazil ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Gazil is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gazil
- Odell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Odell is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell
- Kendalia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kendalia is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendalia
- Lizemores
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lizemores is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lizemores
- Pigeon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pigeon is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pigeon
- Clendenin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Osbornes Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Osbornes Mills is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osbornes Mills
- Wellford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wellford is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellford
- Coco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Coco is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coco
- Spangler
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Spangler is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spangler
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Valley Fork
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Fork is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Fork
- Amma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Amma is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amma
- Pond Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Pond Gap is located in Kanawha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Gap
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Odessa. See our List of 1890's Communities around Odessa.
Newspapers Published in Odessa ...
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 4 newspapers that have been published in the area around Odessa.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Odessa, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Odessa.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Odessa:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Boone County
- Braxton County
- Calhoun County
- Fayette County
- Gilmer County
- Jackson County
- Kanawha County
- Nicholas County
- Putnam County
- Roane 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> | 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- Odessa) 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 Odessa, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |