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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 Simoda (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 Simoda. 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 and doctors 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.

Simoda is located in Pendleton 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 Pendleton County: Augusta (VA), Highland (VA), Rockingham (VA), Grant, Hardy, Pocahontas & Randolph.

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

  • Pendleton County     (The home county of Simoda)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Circleville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Macksville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Macksville is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksville
    • Onego
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Onego is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onego
    • Dry Run
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Dry Run is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
    • Zigler
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Zigler is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zigler
    • Ruddle
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Ruddle is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruddle
    • Franklin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Kline
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Kline is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
    • Brushy Run
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brushy Run is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Run
    • Harper
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Harper is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
    • Brandywine
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Propstburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Propstburg is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Propstburg
  • Barbour County
    • Junior
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Junior is located in Barbour County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
  • Grant County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Hopeville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hopeville is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopeville
    • Pansy
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pansy is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pansy
    • Seemly ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Seemly is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seemly
    • Dorcas
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Dorcas is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcas
    • Petersburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Arthur
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Arthur is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
    • Seymourville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Seymourville is located in Grant County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seymourville
  • Hardy County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Peru
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Peru is located in Hardy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
    • Durgon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Durgon is located in Hardy County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgon
  • Pocahontas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Wildell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Wildell is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildell
    • Thornwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Thornwood is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornwood
    • Frank
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Frank is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
    • Durbin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Arbovale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Bank
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Whitmer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Whitmer is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitmer
    • Harperton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Harperton is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperton
    • Harman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Wymer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Wymer is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wymer
    • Evenwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Evenwood is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evenwood
    • Dryfork
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Canfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Canfield is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canfield
    • Beverly
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Elkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Pettit ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Pettit is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettit
    • Gilman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Gilman is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
    • Leadsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Leadsville is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leadsville
  • Tucker County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Gladwin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Gladwin is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
    • Canaan Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Elk
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Elk is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
    • Hendricks
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Hendricks is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
    • Pleasant Run
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Pleasant Run is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
    • Hambleton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Hambleton is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambleton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
    • Porterwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Porterwood is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterwood
    • Davis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Parsons
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Coketon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Coketon is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coketon
    • Thomas
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Pierce
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Pierce is located in Tucker County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
  • Highland County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Possum Trot
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Possum Trot is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
    • Hightown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Hightown is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
    • Palo Alto
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Palo Alto is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto
    • Monterey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Meadowdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Meadowdale is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
    • McDowell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Rockingham County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simoda, with the one closest to Simoda listed first.
    • Criders
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Criders is located in Rockingham County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Criders
    • Briery Branch
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Briery Branch is located in Rockingham County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briery Branch
    • Clover Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Clover Hill is located in Rockingham County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Hill

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

Cemeteries Near Simoda ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Simoda.

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

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

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

  • Simmons Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Burns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • North Fork Memorial Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Laurel Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Pinecrest Memorial Gardens
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Keister Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Pine Hill Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Hinkle Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Blue Grass Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Kerns Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Dice Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (69 more) ...

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.<4>

While we didn't find Simoda in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Simoda.

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

  • Circleville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Macksville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Macksville is located in Pendleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksville
  • Dry Run
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Dry Run is located in Pendleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
  • Osceola
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Osceola is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
  • Franklin
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Ruddle
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Ruddle is located in Pendleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruddle
  • Job
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Job is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Job
  • Upper Tract
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Deer Run
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Deer Run is located in Pendleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Run
  • Glady
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Brandywine
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Kline
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Kline is located in Pendleton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Brushy Run
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brushy Run is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Run
    • Oak Flat
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Oak Flat is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Flat
    • Fort Seybert
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Fort Seybert is located in Pendleton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Seybert

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

Newspapers Published in Simoda ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Simoda.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Simoda, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Simoda.

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 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 Simoda:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Simoda) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Simoda, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.