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 Polk (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 Polk. 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.
Polk is located in Jackson 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 Jackson County: Meigs (OH), Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane, Wirt & Wood.
Below are the counties that are near Polk. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Polk:
- Jackson County (The home county of Polk)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Neptune
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Neptune is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Skull Run
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Skull Run is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skull Run
- Mozelle ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mozelle is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mozelle
- Sherman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Willowdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Willowdale is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowdale
- Ravenswood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Browning ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Browning is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browning
- Willow Grove ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Willow Grove is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Beatysville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beatysville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beatysville
- Medina
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Medina is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medina
- Wilding
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wilding is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilding
- Flatwoods
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Flatwoods is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatwoods
- Odaville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Odaville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odaville
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- New Haven
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hartford City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hartford City is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartford City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 593 people
- Mason
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Letart
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Letart is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letart
- Clifton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Clifton is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Sassafras
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sassafras is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassafras
- West Columbia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- West Columbia is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Columbia
- Baden
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Baden is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baden
- Flatrock
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Flatrock is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flatrock
- York
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- York is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Brighton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brighton is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
- Meadowbrook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Meadowbrook is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Leon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Leon is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Putnam County
- Liberty
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Liberty is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Ritchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Cisco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cisco is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cisco
- Petroleum
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Petroleum is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petroleum
- Rusk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rusk is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
- Roane County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Reedy
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Reedy is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Flint Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Flint Town is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flint Town
- Millard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Millard is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millard
- Spencer
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Zona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Zona is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zona
- Triplett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Triplett is located in Roane County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Triplett
- Wirt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Windy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Windy is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windy
- Peewee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Peewee is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peewee
- Palestine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Palestine is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Elizabeth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Newark
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Newark is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Greencastle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Greencastle is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greencastle
- Lucile
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lucile is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucile
- Freeport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Freeport is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
- Burning Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Burning Springs is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burning Springs
- Creston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Creston is located in Wirt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Wood County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Wesley ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Wesley is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wesley
- Eli
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Eli is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eli
- Lubeck
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lubeck is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lubeck
- Washington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant View
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant View is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Blennerhassett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Blennerhassett is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blennerhassett
- Mineral Acres
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mineral Acres is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Acres
- Mineral Wells
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Leachtown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Leachtown is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leachtown
- Slate
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Slate is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate
- Parkersburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Kanawha
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kanawha is located in Wood County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha
- Vienna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Athens County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Vanderhoof
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Vanderhoof is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderhoof
- Coolville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Youba
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Youba is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youba
- Pratts Fork
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pratts Fork is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratts Fork
- Carsey Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Carsey Town is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsey Town
- Guysville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Guysville is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guysville
- Shade
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Beebe
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Beebe is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe
- Stewart
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Stewart is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart
- Big Run
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Big Run is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Armadale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Armadale is located in Athens County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armadale
- Albany
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Amesville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Gallia County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Carlton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Carlton is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlton
- Cheshire
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cheshire is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheshire
- Population from the 2020 Census: 127 people
- Kyger
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Kyger is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyger
- Westbrook Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Westbrook Village is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
- Gallipolis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kerr
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kerr is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerr
- Mills Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mills Village is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills Village
- Ewington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Ewington is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ewington
- Vinton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Rodney
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rodney is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
- Meigs County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Portland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bashan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bashan is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bashan
- Keno
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Keno is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keno
- Spiller
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Spiller is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spiller
- Dorcas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Dorcas is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcas
- Tuppers Plains
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Racine
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Syracuse
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Welshtown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Welshtown is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welshtown
- Plants
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Plants is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plants
- Letart Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Letart Falls is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letart Falls
- Pomeroy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Middleport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Morgan County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Joy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Joy is located in Morgan County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joy
- Chesterhill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Wrightstown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Wrightstown is located in Morgan County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrightstown
- Vinton County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Wilkesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wilkesville is located in Vinton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilkesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
- Vales Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Vales Mills is located in Vinton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vales Mills
- Arbaugh
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Arbaugh is located in Vinton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbaugh
- Washington County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Redbush
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Redbush is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbush
- Fillmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Fillmore is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Porterfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Porterfield is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterfield
- Rockland
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rockland is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Corner is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corner
- Decaturville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Decaturville is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decaturville
- Belpre
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Belpre is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belpre
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,356 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Belpre <1>
- Napier
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Napier is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Vincent
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Vincent is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vincent
- Barlow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Barlow is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Watertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Watertown is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watertown
- Wolf Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wolf Creek is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Creek
- Harmar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Harmar is located in Washington County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmar
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Polk, see our County-by-County Page for Polk.
Cemeteries Near Polk ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Polk.
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 Polk - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Polk covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- DeWitt Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Coleman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Ball Knob Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Middleswart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Laucks Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wheaton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Howell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sand Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Stewart Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rainbow Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Browning Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Staats Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (821 more) ...
- Lamps Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Swain Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Brick Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Polk in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Polk.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Polk, with the one closest to Polk listed first.
- Hazael
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hazael is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazael
- Murraysville
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Murraysville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murraysville
- Neptune
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Neptune is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neptune
- Long Bottom
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Portland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Skull Run
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Skull Run is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skull Run
- Lone Cedar
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lone Cedar is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Cedar
- Bashan
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bashan is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bashan
- Fayal ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Fayal is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayal
- Sherman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sherman is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Topins Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Topins Grove is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topins Grove
- Keno
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Keno is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keno
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Willowdale
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Willowdale is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowdale
- Reedsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Reedsville is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedsville
- Great Bend
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Great Bend is located in Meigs County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Great Bend
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Polk. See our List of 1890's Communities around Polk.
Newspapers Published in Polk ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Polk.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Polk, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Polk.
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 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 Polk:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Jackson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Mason County
- Putnam County
- Ritchie County
- Roane County
- Wirt County
- Wood County
- Athens County
- Gallia County
- Meigs County
- Morgan County
- Vinton County
- Washington 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> | 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 Polk, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Polk) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |