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 Rock Forge (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 Rock Forge. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Rock Forge is located in Monongalia 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 Monongalia County: Fayette (PA), Greene (PA), Marion, Preston, Taylor & Wetzel.
Below are the counties that are near Rock Forge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rock Forge:
- Monongalia County (The home county of Rock Forge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Brookhaven
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Brookhaven is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Morgantown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Westover
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Laurel Point is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Point
- Baker Ridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
- Canyon
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Canyon is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
- Cheat Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
- Granville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Granville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,156 people
- Star City
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Star City is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
- Little Falls
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Osage
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Osage is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osage
- Cassville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cassville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassville
- Maidsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Maidsville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maidsville
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Clemtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Clemtown is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemtown
- Pleasant Creek ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Creek is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Creek
- Kasson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Kasson is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Arden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Arden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Adaland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Adaland is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaland
- Valley Furnace
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Valley Furnace is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Furnace
- Berryburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Berryburg is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryburg
- Meriden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Meriden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Enterprise
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Enterprise is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Saltwell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saltwell is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltwell
- Shinnston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Wyatt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wyatt is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatt
- Bridgeport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Haywood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Haywood is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haywood
- Lumberport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lumberport is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumberport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
- Meadowbrook
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Meadowbrook is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Spelter
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Spelter is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spelter
- Jimtown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jimtown is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jimtown
- Despard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Despard is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Despard
- Gore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gore is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gore
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Mount Harmony
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Harmony is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Harmony
- Rivesville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant View
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Canton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Canton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Hoodsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Hoodsville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoodsville
- Neel ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Neel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Samaria
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Samaria is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Fairmont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Palatine
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Palatine is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palatine
- Grant Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Grant Town is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant Town
- Population from the 2020 Census: 590 people
- Barrackville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Barrackville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrackville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,270 people
- Garden Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Garden Village is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Hebron
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hebron is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Preston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Masontown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Gladesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Gladesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
- Arthurdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Reedsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Rockville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Rockville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockville
- Threefork Bridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Threefork Bridge is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Threefork Bridge
- Little Sandy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Little Sandy is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Sandy
- Independence
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Independence is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Bruceton Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Newburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Kingwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brandonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Brandonville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 105 people
- Albright
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Thornton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Fetterman
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- Grafton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- West Grafton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Knottsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- Pruntytown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pruntytown is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruntytown
- Webster
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Webster is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Yates ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Yates is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Oreide
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oreide is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oreide
- Brydon
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Brydon is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
- Sandy ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sandy is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Stone House ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Stone House is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
- Flemington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Flemington is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Wetzel County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Round Bottom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Round Bottom is located in Wetzel County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Hundred
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Garrett County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Hutton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Friendsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- McHenry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Oakland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,803 people
- Fayette County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Point Marion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Morris Crossroads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Morris Crossroads is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Crossroads
- Winstead
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Winstead is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstead
- Atlantic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Atlantic is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlantic
- New Geneva
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- New Geneva is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Geneva
- Fairchance
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Haydentown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Haydentown is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydentown
- Smithfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fayette
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Fayette is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
- Masontown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Woodside
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Woodside is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodside
- Shoaf
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Shoaf is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoaf
- Highhouse
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Highhouse is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highhouse
- Greene County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Dunkard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dunkard is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkard
- Dilliner
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Dilliner is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilliner
- Mount Morris
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Greensboro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Kirby
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kirby is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby
- Ceylon
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Ceylon is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceylon
- Nemacolin
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Nemacolin is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nemacolin
- Fordyce
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Fordyce is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyce
- Fairdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fairdale is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairdale
- Carmichaels
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cumberland Village is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Village
- Khedive
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Khedive is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Khedive
- Gump
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gump is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gump
- Washington County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Millsboro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Fredericktown - Millsboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Blainsburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Blainsburg is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blainsburg
- Deemston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Deemston is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deemston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 696 people
- West Brownsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- West Brownsville is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brownsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Beallsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bissell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bissell is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bissell
- Centerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Centerville is located in Washington County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,133 people
- Marianna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rock Forge, see our County-by-County Page for Rock Forge.
Cemeteries Near Rock Forge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rock Forge.
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 Rock Forge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rock Forge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Nuce Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Summers Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Pool Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- East Oak Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Fairview Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Nicholson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lawnwood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ida Jane Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (477 more) ...
- Pierpont Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Robe Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Goshen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<3>
While we didn't find Rock Forge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rock Forge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rock Forge, with the one closest to Rock Forge listed first.
- Dellslow
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Dellslow is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dellslow
- Morgantown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Uffington
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Uffington is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uffington
- Easton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Easton is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easton
- Laurel Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Laurel Point is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Point
- Little Falls
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Randall
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Randall is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randall
- Clinton Furnace
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton Furnace is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton Furnace
- Stewartstown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Stewartstown is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartstown
- Lowsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Lowsville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowsville
- Masontown
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Opekiska
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Opekiska is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opekiska
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Halleck
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Halleck is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halleck
- Pisgah
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pisgah is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Maidsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Maidsville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maidsville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rock Forge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rock Forge.
Newspapers Published in Rock Forge ...
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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rock Forge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rock Forge, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rock Forge.
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 Rock Forge:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Monongalia County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Harrison County
- Marion County
- Preston County
- Taylor County
- Wetzel County
- Garrett County
- Fayette County
- Greene 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Rock Forge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Rock Forge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |