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 Shoals (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 Shoals. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Shoals is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Boyd (KY), Lawrence (KY), Martin (KY), Lawrence (OH), Cabell, Lincoln & Mingo.
Below are the counties that are near Shoals. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shoals:
- Wayne County (The home county of Shoals)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Buffalo Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo Creek is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Creek
- Centerville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Ceredo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Kenova
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wayne
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Armilda
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Armilda is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armilda
- Echo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Echo is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo
- Hubbardstown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hubbardstown is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hubbardstown
- East Lynn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- East Lynn is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lynn
- Nestlow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Nestlow is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nestlow
- Mineral Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mineral Springs is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Fort Gay
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Gay is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Gay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
- Cabell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Hodges
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hodges is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodges
- Huntington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Reid
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Reid is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid
- Guyandotte
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Guyandotte is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guyandotte
- Melissa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Melissa is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melissa
- Wilson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wilson is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Pea Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pea Ridge is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
- Sarah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sarah is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarah
- Barboursville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Salt Rock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Fudges Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Fudges Creek is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fudges Creek
- Ona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- West Hamlin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- West Hamlin is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hamlin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 689 people
- Sheridan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sheridan is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Portersville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Portersville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portersville
- Hamlin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Myra
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Myra is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myra
- Kinder ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kinder is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinder
- Wewanta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wewanta is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wewanta
- Sweetland
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sweetland is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
- Spears ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Spears is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spears
- Palermo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Palermo is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palermo
- Harts
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Yawkey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Yawkey is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yawkey
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Upland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Upland is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upland
- Apple Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Apple Grove is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Hogsett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hogsett is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hogsett
- Putnam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Hurricane
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Teays Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Teays Village is located in Putnam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teays Village
- Teays Valley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Boyd County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Lockwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lockwood is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
- Durbin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Durbin is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durbin
- Catlettsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Normal
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Normal is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normal
- Big Sandy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Big Sandy is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
- Cliffside
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cliffside is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffside
- Mavity
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mavity is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mavity
- Ashland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Boltsfork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Boltsfork is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boltsfork
- Cannonsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cannonsburg is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannonsburg
- Fairview
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Millseat
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Millseat is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millseat
- Carter County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Denton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Denton is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denton
- Jeriel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Jeriel is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeriel
- Mount Savage
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mount Savage is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Savage
- Hitchins
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hitchins is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hitchins
- Willard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Willard is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Grayson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pactolus
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pactolus is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pactolus
- Beetle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Beetle is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beetle
- Leon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Leon is located in Carter County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
- Elliott County (KY)
- Bruin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bruin is located in Elliott County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruin
- Greenup County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Bellefonte
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bellefonte is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefonte
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Russell
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Danleyton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Danleyton is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danleyton
- Flatwoods
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Raceland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Raceland is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raceland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,338 people
- Worthington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Worthington is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worthington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,488 people
- Hunnewell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hunnewell is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunnewell
- Argillite
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wurtland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Wurtland is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
- Hopewell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hopewell is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Greenup
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lloyd
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lloyd is located in Greenup County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloyd
- Lawrence County (KY)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Buchanan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Buchanan is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buchanan
- Zelda ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Zelda is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zelda
- Bolton ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bolton is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolton
- Catalpa ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Catalpa is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catalpa
- Estep ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Estep is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estep
- Fallsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fallsburg is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallsburg
- Goldie ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Goldie is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldie
- Potters
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Potters is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potters
- Stringtown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Stringtown is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stringtown
- Five Forks
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Five Forks is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Keturah ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Keturah is located in Lawrence County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keturah
- Louisa
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Martin County (KY)
- Hode
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hode is located in Martin County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hode
- Gallia County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Crown City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Crown City is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Bladen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bladen is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bladen
- Eureka
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka is located in Gallia County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Lawrence County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Chesapeake
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sybene
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sybene is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sybene
- Burlington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burlington is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Rockwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Rockwood is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- South Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Proctorville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sheridan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sheridan is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
- Coal Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Coal Grove is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,048 people
- Andis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Andis is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andis
- Linnville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Linnville is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linnville
- Athalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Athalia is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
- Scottown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Scottown is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottown
- Scioto County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Haverhill Station
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Haverhill Station is located in Scioto County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haverhill Station
- Powellsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Powellsville is located in Scioto County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellsville
- Franklin Furnace
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shoals, see our County-by-County Page for Shoals.
Cemeteries Near Shoals ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shoals.
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 Shoals - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shoals covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Plymale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bloss Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mt. Vernon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mays Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Ward Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lockwood - White Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood - White Cemetery
- The Lockwood - White Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lockwood Cemetery
- Riggs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bailey Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Harveytown Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (908 more) ...
- Dock Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Maple Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Johnston Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Shoals had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shoals, with the one closest to Shoals listed first.
- Dickson
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dickson is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickson
- Hodges
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hodges is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodges
- Lockwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lockwood is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lockwood
- Centerville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Sybene
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sybene is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sybene
- Burlington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burlington is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Huntington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ceredo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Savage Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Savage Branch is located in Boyd County (KY)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage Branch
- Bowen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bowen is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowen
- Rockwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Rockwood is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
- Kenova
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Howell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Howell is located in Lawrence County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
- Guyandotte
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Guyandotte is located in Cabell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guyandotte
- South Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shoals. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shoals.
Newspapers Published in Shoals ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shoals.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shoals, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shoals.
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 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 Shoals:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Wayne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cabell County
- Lincoln County
- Mason County
- Putnam County
- Boyd County
- Carter County
- Elliott County
- Greenup County
- Lawrence County
- Martin County
- Gallia County
- Lawrence County
- Scioto 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 Shoals, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Shoals) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |