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 Silica (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 Silica. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Silica is located in Randolph 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 Randolph County: Barbour, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Tucker, Upshur & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Silica. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Silica:
- Randolph County (The home county of Silica)
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Helvetia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pickens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Florence ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Monterville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elkwater
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Elkwater is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
- Lee Bell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
- Blue Spring
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
- Huttonsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Mill Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Cassity
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Huff ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Valley Head
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mingo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Junior
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Junior is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Audra
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Audra is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Audra
- Wilmoth ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
- Belington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clements ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Clements is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
- Tygart Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Tygart Junction is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tygart Junction
- Valley Bend
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Milroy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Falls Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
- Knawl
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Knawl is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knawl
- Palmer
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Palmer is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
- Bulltown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Corley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Napier
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Orlando
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Orlando is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Flatwoods
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Heaters
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rollyson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rollyson is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollyson
- McNutt
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- McNutt is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Burnsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gilmer County
- Stouts Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Duffy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Crawford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Garton Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Alkires Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Aberdeen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Aberdeen is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
- Berlin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Berlin is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Cox Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cox Town is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
- Weston
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Village
- Jane Lew
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Camden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Camden is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden
- Nicholas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Tioga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Birch River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pocahontas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Slaty Fork
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wildell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Wildell is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildell
- Durbin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Frank
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Frank is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
- Cass
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Thornwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Thornwood is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornwood
- Arbovale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Green Bank
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sitlington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
- Edray
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Onoto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Goshen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Goshen is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
- Alexander
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Kanawha Head
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Alton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Beans Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Wilsontown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Rock Cave
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Queens
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Queens is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
- Hoover Town
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Hoover Town is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Tenmile
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Tenmile is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
- Frenchton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Adrian
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Cleveland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hacker Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Replete
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Big Run
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Orndoff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Ralph
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ralph is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
- Addison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
- Excelsior
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Excelsior is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Erbacon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Halo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Halo is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
- Upperglade
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Upperglade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
- Cowen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Welch Glade
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Welch Glade is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Silica, see our County-by-County Page for Silica.
Cemeteries Near Silica ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Silica.
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 Silica - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Silica covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Pickens Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Helvetia Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Dale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hicks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ross Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Old Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brooks Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rice Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Vance Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Gregory Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (204 more) ...
- Life Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Marple Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
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>
While we didn't find Silica in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Silica.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Silica, with the one closest to Silica listed first.
- Pickens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Helvetia
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mayton ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mayton is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayton
- Florence ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Selbyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Selbyville is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selbyville
- Canaan
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Palace Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Palace Valley is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palace Valley
- Alexander
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alexander is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
- Gaines
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gaines is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaines
- Pugh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Pugh is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pugh
- Hacker Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Holly Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Holly Grove is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Grove
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Hemlock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hemlock is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemlock
- Kanawha Head
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Cleveland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Silica. See our List of 1890's Communities around Silica.
Newspapers Published in Silica ...
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 1 newspapers that have been published in the area around Silica.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Silica, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Silica.
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 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 Silica:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Randolph County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Braxton County
- Gilmer County
- Lewis County
- Nicholas County
- Pocahontas County
- Upshur County
- Webster 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> | 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 Silica, 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 from Point A (ie- Silica) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |