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 Renicks Valley (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 Renicks Valley. 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.
Name Variations for Renicks Valley ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Renicks Valley: Renicks Vly. (or less commonly used: Renicks Vally. or Renicks Vlly.)
- While the name of this community is Renicks Valley, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Renicks Valley may originally have been Renick's Valley.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Renicks Valley is located in Greenbrier 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 Greenbrier County: Alleghany (VA), Bath (VA), Fayette, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Summers & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Renicks Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Renicks Valley:
- Greenbrier County (The home county of Renicks Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Oscar
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Oscar is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
- Loveridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Loveridge is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveridge
- Falling Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Spring Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Spring Creek is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Frankford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Sunlight
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sunlight is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunlight
- Unus
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Unus is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unus
- Anthony
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Anthony is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony
- Neola
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Neola is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neola
- Williamsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wild Meadow
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wild Meadow is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Meadow
- Clendenenville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Clendenenville is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clendenenville
- Fayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Maywood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Maywood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood
- Spring Dale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Dale is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Dale
- Bellwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bellwood is located in Fayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Richwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Saxman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Saxman is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxman
- Peaser Junction ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Peaser Junction is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaser Junction
- Carl
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Carl is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carl
- Nettie
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tolbert
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tolbert is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tolbert
- Odell Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Odell Town is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odell Town
- Odell Town has also been known as:
- Odell
- Craigsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Donald
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Donald is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donald
- Snow Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Snow Hill is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Beaver
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Beaver is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Runa
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Runa is located in Nicholas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runa
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Hillsboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Watoga ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Watoga is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
- Buckeye
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Marlinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Huntersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Onoto
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
- Edray
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Thorny Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Slaty Fork
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Frost
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Frost is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Sitlington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Camden-on-Gauley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Camden-on-Gauley is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden-on-Gauley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
- Upperglade
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Welch Glade
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
- Cowen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Addison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Excelsior
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Ralph
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Halo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Alleghany County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Moss Run
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moss Run is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Low Moor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton Forge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rich Patch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Selma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Selma is located in Alleghany County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Bath County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Greenwood ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Greenwood is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Mountain Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mountain Grove is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Cowardin ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cowardin is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
- Carloover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Carloover is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
- Healing Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Mitchelltown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mitchelltown is located in Bath County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
- Warm Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Covington City (VA)
- Covington
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Renicks Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Renicks Valley.
Cemeteries Near Renicks Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Renicks Valley.
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 Renicks Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Renicks Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Mountain Gate Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Kellison Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sunset Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Morning Side Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Walnut Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Reed Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Enon Baptist Church Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Watts Chapel Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver Creek Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Baber Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Messir Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (92 more) ...
- Hoke Cemetery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Richwood Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Renicks Valley had a population of 21 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Renicks Valley, with the one closest to Renicks Valley listed first.
- Jacox
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jacox is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacox
- Locust
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Locust is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust
- Loveridge
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Loveridge is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveridge
- Falling Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Lobelia
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lobelia is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lobelia
- Leonard
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Leonard is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
- Friars Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Friars Hill is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars Hill
- Sue
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sue is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sue
- Frankford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Mill Point
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Point is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Point
- Williamsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alvon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alvon is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvon
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Buckeye
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mapledale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mapledale is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapledale
- Richlands
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Richlands is located in Greenbrier County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richlands
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Renicks Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Renicks Valley.
Newspapers Published in Renicks Valley ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Renicks Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Renicks Valley, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Renicks Valley.
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 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 Renicks Valley:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Greenbrier County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fayette County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Webster County
- Alleghany County
- Bath County
- Covington City
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <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 Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <4> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Renicks Valley, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Renicks Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |