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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Packsville (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 Packsville. 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.

Packsville is located in Raleigh 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 Raleigh County: Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Mercer, Summers & Wyoming.

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

  • Raleigh County     (The home county of Packsville)
  • Boone County
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Packsville, with the one closest to Packsville listed first.
    • Elkridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • 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.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkridge
      • Elkridge is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Elkridge
      • From Packsville to Elkridge
    • McDunn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Pax
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pax have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • 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.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
      • Roseville is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Roseville
      • From Packsville to Roseville
    • Powellton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Powellton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
      • Powellton is located in Fayette County
    • Kimberly
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Wriston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wriston. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wriston
      • Wriston is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wriston
      • From Packsville to Wriston
    • Mount Carbon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Kilsyth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Kilsyth. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilsyth
      • Kilsyth is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kilsyth
      • From Packsville to Kilsyth
    • Crescent
      (19 miles [30.6 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.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
      • Crescent is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Crescent
      • From Packsville to Crescent
    • Falls View
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Montgomery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Kanawha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Packsville, with the one closest to Packsville listed first.
    • Acme
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Carbon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Eskdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Ronda
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Dry Branch
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Winifrede
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Cabin Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Chesapeake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chesapeake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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
    • East Bank
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Bank have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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
    • Glasgow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glasgow have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glasgow
      • Glasgow is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 823 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Glasgow <1>
    • Handley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Handley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Handley
      • Handley is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 309 people
    • Hollygrove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Packsville, with the one closest to Packsville listed first.
    • Alkol
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Alum Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Priestley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Sod
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • East ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East
      • East is located in Lincoln County
    • Tango
      (29 miles [46.7 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.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tango
      • Tango is located in Lincoln County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Tango
      • From Packsville to Tango
    • Yawkey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Packsville, with the one closest to Packsville listed first.
    • Accoville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mallory
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mallory have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallory
      • Mallory is located in Logan County
    • Mineral City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mineral City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral City
      • Mineral City is located in Logan County
    • Man
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Fort Branch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Wylo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mitchell Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mitchell Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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
    • Peach Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • West Logan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Logan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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 <1>
    • Banco
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Chapmanville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Logan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Mingo County
    • Gilbert
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gilbert have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert
      • Gilbert is located in Mingo County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 378 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gilbert <1>
  • Nicholas County
  • Wyoming County

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

Cemeteries Near Packsville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Packsville.

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 Packsville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Packsville, with the one closest to Packsville 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 Packsville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Packsville.

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

  • Jarrolds Valley
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jarrolds Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrolds Valley
    • Jarrolds Valley is located in Raleigh County
  • Bandytown
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Dry Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dry Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Creek
    • Dry Creek is located in Raleigh County
  • Decota
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Decota have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decota
    • Decota is located in Kanawha County
  • Acme
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Bald Knob
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Nelson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • 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.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
    • Nelson is located in Boone County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Nelson
    • From Packsville to Nelson
  • Gordon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Van
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Clear Creek
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clear Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Creek
    • Clear Creek is located in Raleigh County
  • Redbird
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Redbird have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbird
    • Redbird is located in Raleigh County
  • Comfort
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Matville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Matville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matville
      • Matville is located in Raleigh County
    • Mossy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mossy have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy
      • Mossy is located in Fayette County
    • Crany
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crany have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crany
      • Crany is located in Wyoming County

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

Newspapers Published in Packsville ...

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 Packsville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Packsville, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Packsville.

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 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 Packsville:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Packsville. 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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>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.
<3>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.
<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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Packsville) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Packsville. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.9521, Longitude: -81.5282    
<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 Packsville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 31 Mar 2025