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The Commemorative Quarter for West Virginia





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 Orgas (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 Orgas. 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 and hospitals 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.

Orgas is located in Boone County.

To see how the shape of West Virginia's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Boone County: Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Raleigh & Wyoming.

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

  • Boone County     (The home county of Orgas)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Coopertown
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Keith
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Joes Creek
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Fosterville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fosterville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosterville
      • Fosterville is located in Boone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fosterville
      • From Orgas to Fosterville
    • Cabot
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cabot. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabot
      • Cabot is located in Boone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cabot
      • From Orgas to Cabot
    • Milltown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Milltown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milltown
      • Milltown is located in Boone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Milltown
      • From Orgas to Milltown
    • Nelson
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Nelson. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
      • Nelson is located in Boone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Nelson
      • From Orgas to Nelson
    • Kirbyton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sylvester
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Hopkins Fork
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Elk Run Junction
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Prenter
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Prenter. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prenter
      • Prenter is located in Boone County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Prenter
      • From Orgas to Prenter
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Elkridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elkridge. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkridge
      • Elkridge is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Elkridge
      • From Orgas to Elkridge
    • Powellton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Powellton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
      • Powellton is located in Fayette County
    • McDunn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Kimberly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Montgomery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Carbon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mount Carbon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carbon
      • Mount Carbon is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mount Carbon
      • From Orgas to Mount Carbon
    • Crescent
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Crescent. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
      • Crescent is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Crescent
      • From Orgas to Crescent
    • Smithers
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smithers have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithers
      • Smithers is located in Fayette County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 726 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Smithers <2>
    • Cannelton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Falls View
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Pax
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pax have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pax
      • Pax is located in Fayette County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 150 people
    • Roseville ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Roseville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
      • Roseville is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Roseville
      • From Orgas to Roseville
  • Kanawha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Acme
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Eskdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Carbon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Winifrede
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cabin Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Dry Branch
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Ronda
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Chesapeake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chesapeake have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesapeake
      • Chesapeake is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,393 people
    • Witcher
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Belle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Belle have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle
      • Belle is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,108 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Belle <2>
    • Marmet
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marmet have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marmet
      • Marmet is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,351 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marmet <2>
    • East Bank
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Bank have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Bank
      • East Bank is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 857 people
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Alum Creek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Priestley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Sod
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Alkol
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • East ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East
      • East is located in Lincoln County
    • Tango
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Tango. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tango
      • Tango is located in Lincoln County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Tango
      • From Orgas to Tango
    • Yawkey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Garretts Bend
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Palermo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Sweetland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sweetland. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
      • Sweetland is located in Lincoln County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sweetland
      • From Orgas to Sweetland
    • Spears ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spears have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spears
      • Spears is located in Lincoln County
    • Harts
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harts have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harts
      • Harts is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Harts <2>
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Accoville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Fort Branch
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fort Branch. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Branch
      • Fort Branch is located in Logan County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fort Branch
      • From Orgas to Fort Branch
    • Mitchell Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mitchell Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell Heights
      • Mitchell Heights is located in Logan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 274 people
    • Banco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Chapmanville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Peach Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Big Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Mallory
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mallory have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallory
      • Mallory is located in Logan County
    • Mineral City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mineral City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
      • Mineral City is located in Logan County
    • West Logan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Logan have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Logan
      • West Logan is located in Logan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Logan <2>
    • Logan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Man
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Nicholas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Dixie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Beech Glen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Raleigh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Packsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Dorothy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Montcoal
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Stickney
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Naoma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Arnett
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Zada
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Redbird
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Redbird have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbird
      • Redbird is located in Raleigh County
    • Fairdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Sweeneyburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sweeneyburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweeneyburg
      • Sweeneyburg is located in Raleigh County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sweeneyburg
      • From Orgas to Sweeneyburg
    • Bradley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bradley have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
      • Bradley is located in Raleigh County
    • Harper
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orgas, with the one closest to Orgas listed first.
    • Kopperston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Oceana
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Turkey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Turkey. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
      • Turkey is located in Wyoming County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Turkey
      • From Orgas to Turkey
    • Keyrock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Clear Fork
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Rock View
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Rock View. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock View
      • Rock View is located in Wyoming County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Rock View
      • From Orgas to Rock View
    • Sun Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sun Hill. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
      • Sun Hill is located in Wyoming County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sun Hill
      • From Orgas to Sun Hill

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

Cemeteries Near Orgas ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orgas.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<6>

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

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

  • Nelson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Nelson. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
    • Nelson is located in Boone County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Nelson
    • From Orgas to Nelson
  • Comfort
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Jarrolds Valley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jarrolds Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrolds Valley
    • Jarrolds Valley is located in Raleigh County
  • Acme
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Racine
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Gordon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Bandytown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Decota
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Decota have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decota
    • Decota is located in Kanawha County
  • Peytona
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Van
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Winifrede
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Dry Branch
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Winifrede Junction
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winifrede Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winifrede Junction
      • Winifrede Junction is located in Kanawha County
    • Coalburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coalburg have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalburg
      • Coalburg is located in Kanawha County
    • Shrewsbury
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shrewsbury have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shrewsbury
      • Shrewsbury is located in Kanawha County

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

Newspapers Published in Orgas ...

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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orgas.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Orgas, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Orgas.

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 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 Orgas:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Orgas. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of West Virginia: https://www.wv.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<4>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.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Orgas) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Orgas. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.0585, Longitude: -81.5724    
<6>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 Orgas, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 31 Mar 2025