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 Rio (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 Rio. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
Rio is located in Hampshire 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 Hampshire County: Allegany (MD), Frederick (VA), Hardy, Mineral & Morgan.
Below are the counties that are near Rio. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rio:
- Hampshire County (The home county of Rio)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Sedan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sedan is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedan
- Yellow Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Augusta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lehew
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lehew is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lehew
- Romney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Junction
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Junction is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction
- Vance
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Vance is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
- Capon Bridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- North River Mills
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- North River Mills is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River Mills
- Three Churches
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Three Churches is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Churches
- Wapocomo
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wapocomo is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wapocomo
- Slanesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Slanesville is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slanesville
- Higginsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Higginsville is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginsville
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Medley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Lahmansville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Lahmansville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lahmansville
- Arthur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Arthur is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
- Seymourville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Seymourville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymourville
- Greenland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Greenland is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenland
- Maysville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Maysville is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
- Petersburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Dorcas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dorcas is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcas
- Hardy County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Wardensville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Inkerman
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Inkerman is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inkerman
- Baker
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Baker is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Fort Run
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Fort Run is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Run
- Lost City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Moorefield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Mathias
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Durgon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Durgon is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgon
- Peru
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Peru is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
- Mineral County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Burlington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Headsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Headsville is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headsville
- Fort Ashby
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- New Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Keyser
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Short Gap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Short Gap is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short Gap
- Hartmansville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hartmansville is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartmansville
- Sulphur City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sulphur City is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur City
- Morgan County
- Paw Paw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Allegany County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Oldtown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Keifers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Keifers is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keifers
- Spring Gap
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Spring Gap is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Gap
- Rawlings
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Frost ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Frost is located in Allegany County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Clarke County (VA)
- White Post
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Frederick County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Lehew
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lehew is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lehew
- Mountain Falls
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Mountain Falls is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Falls
- Rock Enon Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rock Enon Springs is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Enon Springs
- Fawcett Gap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Fawcett Gap is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fawcett Gap
- Rosenberger
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Rosenberger is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosenberger
- Hayfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Hayfield is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayfield
- Middletown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Good
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Good is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good
- Nordic Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Nordic Village is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nordic Village
- Chambersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Chambersville is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chambersville
- Cross Junction
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Day - Mar Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Day - Mar Village is located in Frederick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Day - Mar Village
- Stephens City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Page County (VA)
- Rileyville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shenandoah County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Zepp
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Zepp is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zepp
- Mount Olive
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Columbia Furnace
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Columbia Furnace is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Furnace
- Maurertown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Strasburg Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Strasburg Junction is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strasburg Junction
- Toms Brook
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Calvary is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary
- Jerome
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jerome is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Strasburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Woodstock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Willow Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Willow Grove is located in Shenandoah County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Edinburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Basye - Bryce Mountain
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Warren County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Waterlick
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Waterlick is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterlick
- Reliance
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Reliance is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Cedarville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cedarville is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Bentonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Limeton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Limeton is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limeton
- Overall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Overall is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overall
- Riverton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Riverton is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton
- Royal Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Royal Village is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Village
- Ashby
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ashby is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
- Front Royal
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Viscose City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Viscose City is located in Warren County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viscose City
- Winchester City (VA)
- Winchester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rio, see our County-by-County Page for Rio.
Cemeteries Near Rio ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rio.
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 Rio - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rio covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Heare Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clagett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Alum - Bank Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hotts Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mountaindale Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Green Lane Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- St. James Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Green Mount Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Hill Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (227 more) ...
- Gravel Springs Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Racey Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- New Dale Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Rio had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rio, with the one closest to Rio listed first.
- Kirby
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kirby is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Wardensville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Delray
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Inkerman
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Inkerman is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inkerman
- Ruckman
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ruckman is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruckman
- Doman ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Doman is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doman
- Needmore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Needmore is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Millbrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Millbrook is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Sedan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sedan is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedan
- Fabius ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fabius is located in Hardy County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Capon Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Yellow Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Dillons Run ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dillons Run is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillons Run
- Augusta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Glebe ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Glebe is located in Hampshire County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glebe
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rio. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rio.
Newspapers Published in Rio ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rio.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rio, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rio.
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 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 Rio:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Hampshire County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Grant County
- Hardy County
- Mineral County
- Morgan County
- Allegany County
- Clarke County
- Frederick County
- Page County
- Shenandoah County
- Warren County
- Winchester City
- 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 Rio, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Rio) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |