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Home >> State of West Virginia >> Mercer County >> Simmons >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Simmons (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 Simmons. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Simmons is located in Mercer 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 Mercer County: Bland (VA), Giles (VA), Tazewell (VA), McDowell, Raleigh, Summers & Wyoming.

Below are the counties that are near Simmons. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Simmons:

  • Mercer County     (The home county of Simmons)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Freeman
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Freeman is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
    • Bramwell
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Nemours
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Coopers
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Coopers is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers
    • Flipping
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Flipping is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flipping
    • Yards
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Yards is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
    • Montcalm
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Montcalm is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montcalm
    • Coaldale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Coaldale is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaldale
    • Littlesburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Littlesburg is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlesburg
    • Weyanoke
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Weyanoke is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weyanoke
    • Bluefield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Matoaka
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Matoaka is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matoaka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 193 people
    • Bethel ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Bethel is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
  • Logan County
    • Rich Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Rich Creek is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
  • McDowell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Elkhorn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkhorn is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
    • Anawalt
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Anawalt is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anawalt
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
    • Kyle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Kyle is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyle
    • Keystone
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Northfork
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Thorpe
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Thorpe is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorpe
    • Big Four
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Big Four is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Four
    • Kimball
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Gary
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Gary is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 759 people
    • Bishop
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bishop is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Welch
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Welch is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,575 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Welch <1>
    • Newhall
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Newhall is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
    • War
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • War is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for War
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 659 people
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Peterstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Ballard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Ballard is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
  • Raleigh County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Rhodell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Rhodell is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
    • Eastgulf
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Eastgulf is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastgulf
    • Helen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Helen is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helen
    • Ury
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Ury is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ury
    • Princewick
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Princewick is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princewick
    • Coal City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Coal City is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal City
    • Slab Fork
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Slab Fork is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slab Fork
    • Stotesbury
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Stotesbury is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stotesbury
    • Sophia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Sullivan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Sullivan is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Glen White
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Glen White is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen White
    • Pemberton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Pemberton is located in Raleigh County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pemberton
    • Crab Orchard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Summers County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Pipestem
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
    • True
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • True is located in Summers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
    • Jumping Branch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jumping Branch is located in Summers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumping Branch
    • Nimitz
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Nimitz is located in Summers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimitz
    • Packs Ferry
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Packs Ferry is located in Summers County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Bud
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Bud is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bud
    • Mullens
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Woosley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Woosley is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woosley
    • Pineville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mullensville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Mullensville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullensville
    • Keyrock
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Keyrock is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyrock
    • Rock View
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Rock View is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock View
    • Fanny
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Fanny is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fanny
    • Stoneville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Stoneville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
    • Wyoming
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Wyoming is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
    • Turkey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Turkey is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
    • Baileysville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Baileysville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileysville
    • Clear Fork
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Clear Fork is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Fork
  • Bland County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Rocky Gap
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Rocky Gap is located in Bland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
    • Hicksville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hicksville is located in Bland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
    • Round Bottom
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Round Bottom is located in Bland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
    • Bastian
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Mechanicsburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
  • Buchanan County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Bearwallow
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Bearwallow is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bearwallow
    • Peapatch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Peapatch is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peapatch
    • Height
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Height is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Height
  • Giles County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Glen Lyn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Glen Lyn is located in Giles County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
    • Shumate
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Shumate is located in Giles County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
    • Lurich
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lurich is located in Giles County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
    • Rich Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Narrows
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Narrows is located in Giles County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narrows
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,949 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Narrows <1>
    • Thessalia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Thessalia is located in Giles County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
    • Bluff City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Bluff City is located in Giles County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
  • Pulaski County (VA)
    • Sassin ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Sassin is located in Pulaski County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
  • Tazewell County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Yards
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Yards is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
    • Pocahontas
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
    • Falls Mills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
    • Bluefield
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Boissevain
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Boissevain is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boissevain
    • Saint Clair
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
    • Abbs Valley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Abbs Valley is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley
    • Springville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Springville is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
    • Shawver Mill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Shawver Mill is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawver Mill
    • Wittens Mills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Wittens Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittens Mills
    • Little Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Little Town is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
    • Bishop
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bishop is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Five Oaks
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Five Oaks is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Oaks
  • Wythe County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.
    • Wytheville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rural Retreat
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Kent
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Kent is located in Wythe County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Simmons, see our County-by-County Page for Simmons.

Cemeteries Near Simmons ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Simmons.

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 Simmons - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Simmons covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.

  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Lambert Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Powell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Miles Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Belcher Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Isaac Bell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Bryant Memorial Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Rye Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Delp Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Mt. Herman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Butt Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Butt Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (426 more) ...
    • Phillips Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Wall Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Shrader Cemetery
      (Less than 2 miles 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 Simmons in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Simmons.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Simmons, with the one closest to Simmons listed first.

  • Bramwell
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Freeman
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Freeman is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeman
  • Coopers
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Coopers is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopers
  • Abbs Valley ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Abbs Valley is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley
  • Pocahontas
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
  • Flipping
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Flipping is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flipping
  • Duhring
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Duhring is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duhring
  • Falls Mills
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County (VA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
  • Coaldale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Coaldale is located in Mercer County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coaldale
  • Maybeury
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Ennis
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Ennis is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ennis
  • Switchback
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Switchback is located in McDowell County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switchback
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Saint Clair
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
    • Bluefield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • New Hope
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • New Hope is located in Mercer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Simmons. See our List of 1890's Communities around Simmons.

Newspapers Published in Simmons ...

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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Simmons.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Simmons, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Simmons.

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 websites either 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 Simmons:

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 Simmons, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Simmons) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.