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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 Prosperity (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 Prosperity. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Prosperity 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 Prosperity. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Prosperity:

  • Raleigh County     (The home county of Prosperity)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Bradley
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bradley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
      • Bradley is located in Raleigh County
    • Skelton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Sweeneyburg
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Piney View
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Piney View have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney View
      • Piney View is located in Raleigh County
    • Sprague
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Wickham
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wickham. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickham
      • Wickham is located in Raleigh County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wickham
      • From Prosperity to Wickham
    • Stanaford
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stanaford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanaford
      • Stanaford is located in Raleigh County
    • White Stick
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Beckley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Mabscott
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mabscott have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabscott
      • Mabscott is located in Raleigh County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,251 people
    • Old Mill Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Old Mill Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Mill Village
      • Old Mill Village is located in Raleigh County
    • Harper
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • MacArthur
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for MacArthur have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for MacArthur
      • MacArthur is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for MacArthur <3>
  • Boone County
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Kilsyth
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilsyth
      • Kilsyth is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Kilsyth
      • From Prosperity to Kilsyth
    • Mount Hope
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Hope have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
      • Mount Hope is located in Fayette County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,259 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mount Hope <3>
    • White Oak Junction
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Pax
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pax have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
    • Prince
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Harvey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Redstar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Redstar. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstar
      • Redstar is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Redstar
      • From Prosperity to Redstar
    • Roseville ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • 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.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
      • Roseville is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Roseville
      • From Prosperity to Roseville
    • Quinnimont
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Whipple
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • McKendree
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McKendree have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKendree
      • McKendree is located in Fayette County
    • Newlyn ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Newlyn. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlyn
      • Newlyn is located in Fayette County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Newlyn
      • From Prosperity to Newlyn
    • Sewell Knob ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sewell Knob. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewell Knob
      • Sewell Knob is located in Fayette County
      • Sewell Knob has also been known as:
      • Swell Knob
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sewell Knob
      • From Prosperity to Sewell Knob
  • Greenbrier County
  • Kanawha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Carbon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Acme
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Eskdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Handley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Handley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ronda
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Pratt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pratt have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratt
      • Pratt is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 552 people
    • Dry Branch
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cabin Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Glasgow
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glasgow have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <3>
    • Cedar Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
      • Cedar Grove is located in Kanawha County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 897 people
    • East Bank
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Bank have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
  • Mercer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Lashmeet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Matoaka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Matoaka have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matoaka
      • Matoaka is located in Mercer County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
    • Weyanoke
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Athens
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Nicholas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity listed first.
    • Beech Glen
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Albion ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Albion have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albion
      • Albion is located in Nicholas County
    • Dixie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Runa
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Runa. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runa
      • Runa is located in Nicholas County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Runa
      • From Prosperity to Runa
    • Snow Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Summers County
  • Wyoming County

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

Cemeteries Near Prosperity ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Prosperity.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Prosperity, with the one closest to Prosperity 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Prosperity had a population of 56 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Mount Hope
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Hope have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Hope
    • Mount Hope is located in Fayette County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,259 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mount Hope <3>
  • Cirtsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cirtsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cirtsville
    • Cirtsville is located in Raleigh County
  • Matville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Matville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matville
    • Matville is located in Raleigh County
  • Daniels
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Daniels have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniels
    • Daniels is located in Raleigh County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Daniels <3>
  • Grandview
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Grandview. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
    • Grandview is located in Raleigh County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Grandview
    • From Prosperity to Grandview
  • Roseville ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • 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.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
    • Roseville is located in Fayette County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Roseville
    • From Prosperity to Roseville
  • Prince
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Lester
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lester have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lester
    • Lester is located in Raleigh County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 312 people
  • Pemberton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pemberton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pemberton
    • Pemberton is located in Raleigh County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Pemberton
    • From Prosperity to Pemberton
  • Crow
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crow have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow
    • Crow is located in Raleigh County
  • Quinnimont
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • McKendree
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McKendree have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKendree
    • McKendree is located in Fayette County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Clear Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clear Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Creek
      • Clear Creek is located in Raleigh County
    • Shady Spring
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Mossy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mossy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy
      • Mossy is located in Fayette County

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

Newspapers Published in Prosperity ...

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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Prosperity.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Prosperity, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Prosperity.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Prosperity:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Prosperity. 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>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.
<2>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.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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 Prosperity, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Prosperity) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Prosperity. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.8368, Longitude: -81.2029    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 31 Mar 2025