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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 Thornwood (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 Thornwood. 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 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.

Thornwood is located in Pocahontas County.

To see how the shape of West Virginia's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Pocahontas County: Bath (VA), Highland (VA), Greenbrier, Pendleton, Randolph & Webster.

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

  • Pocahontas County     (The home county of Thornwood)
  • Pendleton County
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thornwood, with the one closest to Thornwood listed first.
    • Elkwater
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Huttonsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lee Bell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lee Bell. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
      • Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lee Bell
      • From Thornwood to Lee Bell
    • Mill Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mill Creek have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
      • Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
    • Mingo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Monterville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Beverly
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Whitmer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Huff ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Huff have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
      • Huff is located in Randolph County
    • Blue Spring
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Evenwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Evenwood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evenwood
      • Evenwood is located in Randolph County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Evenwood
      • From Thornwood to Evenwood
    • Wymer
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Cassity
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cassity. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
      • Cassity is located in Randolph County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cassity
      • From Thornwood to Cassity
  • Upshur County
  • Augusta County (VA)
  • Bath County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thornwood, with the one closest to Thornwood listed first.
    • Bolar
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Burnsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fort Lewis. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
      • Fort Lewis is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Fort Lewis
      • From Thornwood to Fort Lewis
  • Highland County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thornwood, with the one closest to Thornwood listed first.
    • Hightown
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hightown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
      • Hightown is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hightown
      • From Thornwood to Hightown
    • Possum Trot
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Meadowdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meadowdale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
      • Meadowdale is located in Highland County (VA)
    • Monterey
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monterey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
      • Monterey is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 136 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Monterey <2>
    • Buckeye ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buckeye have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
      • Buckeye is located in Highland County (VA)
    • McDowell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Palo Alto
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Palo Alto. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto
      • Palo Alto is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Palo Alto
      • From Thornwood to Palo Alto
    • Clover Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Thornwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thornwood.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Goodsell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Goodsell Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Goodsell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Mark Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Mark Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Mark Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Yeager Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Yeager Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Yeager Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Keller Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Keller Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Keller Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hauchen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hauchen Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hauchen Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mt. Hobart Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Hobart Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Hobart Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bethel Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bethel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ft. Milroy Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ft. Milroy Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ft. Milroy Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Arbovale Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Arbovale Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Arbovale Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Blue Grass Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Blue Grass Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Blue Grass Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Wanless Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Wanless Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Wanless Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairview Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (70 more) ...
    • Hilltop Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hilltop Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hilltop Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Simmons Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Simmons Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Simmons Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Ware Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ware Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ware Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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 Thornwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Thornwood.

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

  • Green Bank
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Hightown
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hightown. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
    • Hightown is located in Highland County (VA)
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Hightown
    • From Thornwood to Hightown
  • New Hampden
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New Hampden have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hampden
    • New Hampden is located in Highland County (VA)
  • Dry Run
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dry Run. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Run
    • Dry Run is located in Pendleton County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Dry Run
    • From Thornwood to Dry Run
  • Osceola
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Osceola have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
    • Osceola is located in Randolph County
  • Meadowdale
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meadowdale have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
    • Meadowdale is located in Highland County (VA)
  • Monterey
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monterey have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Monterey is located in Highland County (VA)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 136 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Monterey <2>
  • Vanderpool
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vanderpool have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanderpool
    • Vanderpool is located in Highland County (VA)
  • Dunmore
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dunmore have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunmore
    • Dunmore is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dunmore <2>
  • Circleville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Elkwater
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Mill Gap
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mill Gap have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Gap
    • Mill Gap is located in Highland County (VA)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Glady
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glady have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glady
      • Glady is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Glady <2>
    • Huttonsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lee Bell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lee Bell. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
      • Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lee Bell
      • From Thornwood to Lee Bell

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

Newspapers Published in Thornwood ...

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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thornwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thornwood, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thornwood.

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 Thornwood:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Thornwood. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of West Virginia: https://www.wv.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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 Thornwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Thornwood) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Thornwood. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.5585, Longitude: -79.7368    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 31 Mar 2025