Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Towson. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Towson to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Towson, please Contact Us.
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 Towson (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 Towson. 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Towson is historic, it would have been located within present day Preston 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 Preston County: Garrett (MD), Fayette (PA), Barbour, Grant, Monongalia, Taylor & Tucker.
Below are the counties that are near Towson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Towson:
- Preston County (The home county of Towson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Tunnelton
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Heathers Run
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Heathers Run is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathers Run
- Kingwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Newburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Threefork Bridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Threefork Bridge is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Threefork Bridge
- Arthurdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rowlesburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Independence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Independence is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Reedsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Gladesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gladesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
- Macomber
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Macomber is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomber
- Albright
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Kasson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Kasson is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasson
- Valley Furnace
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Furnace is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Furnace
- Clemtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clemtown is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clemtown
- Arden
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Arden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
- Pleasant Creek ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Pleasant Creek is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Creek
- Kalamazoo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kalamazoo is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalamazoo
- Adaland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Adaland is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaland
- Meriden
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Meriden is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
- Vannoys Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vannoys Mill is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vannoys Mill
- Berryburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Berryburg is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryburg
- Philippi
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Calhoun
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Calhoun is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Grant County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Dobbin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Dobbin is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbin
- Bayard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bayard is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Wilson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Grant County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Bridgeport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Enterprise
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Enterprise is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Saltwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Saltwell is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saltwell
- Shinnston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Anmoore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Despard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Despard is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Despard
- Meadowbrook
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Meadowbrook is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Spelter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Spelter is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spelter
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Neel ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Neel is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neel
- Hebron
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hebron is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Samaria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Samaria is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
- Canton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Canton is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Hammond
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hammond is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Mount Harmony
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mount Harmony is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Harmony
- Colfax
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Colfax is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colfax
- Palatine
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Palatine is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palatine
- Pleasant Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,141 people
- Rivesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasant View
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant View is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Fairmont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Mineral County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Schell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Schell is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schell
- Harrison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Harrison is located in Mineral County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrison
- Monongalia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Brookhaven
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brookhaven is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookhaven
- Little Falls
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Little Falls is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Falls
- Smithtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Smithtown is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithtown
- Cheat Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cheat Lake is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheat Lake
- Morgantown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Canyon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Canyon is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon
- Laurel Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel Point is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Point
- Westover
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Baker Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Baker Ridge is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Ridge
- Granville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Granville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,156 people
- Star City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Star City is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,984 people
- Arnettsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Arnettsville is located in Monongalia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnettsville
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Montrose
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Montrose is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
- Pettit ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pettit is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettit
- Whyte
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Whyte is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whyte
- Gilman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gilman is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilman
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Thornton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Thornton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thornton
- Knottsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Knottsville is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knottsville
- Sandy ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy
- Grafton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Fetterman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fetterman is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fetterman
- West Grafton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- West Grafton is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Grafton
- Stone House ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stone House is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone House
- Yates ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Yates is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates
- Webster
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Webster is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
- Brydon
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Brydon is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
- Pruntytown
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Pruntytown is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pruntytown
- Flemington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Flemington is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Tucker County
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Pierce
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pierce is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Parsons
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Thomas
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hambleton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hambleton is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hambleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 212 people
- Porterwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Porterwood is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterwood
- Coketon
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Coketon is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coketon
- Hendricks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hendricks is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hendricks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 254 people
- Davis
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Run
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Run is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Run
- Elk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Elk is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk
- Gladwin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gladwin is located in Tucker County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladwin
- Garrett County (MD)
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Hutton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hutton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutton
- Red House
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Red House is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red House
- Oakland
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,803 people
- Loch Lynn Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Loch Lynn Heights is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lynn Heights
- Population from the 2020 Census: 525 people
- Mountain Lake Park
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Mountain Lake Park is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,065 people
- Fort Pendleton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Fort Pendleton is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Pendleton
- Wilson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
- Deer Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- McHenry
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Altamont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Altamont is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
- Friendsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Schell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Schell is located in Garrett County (MD)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schell
- Fayette County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Point Marion
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Morris Crossroads
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Morris Crossroads is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morris Crossroads
- Elliottsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Elliottsville is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliottsville
- Haydentown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Haydentown is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haydentown
- Winstead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Winstead is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstead
- Atlantic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Atlantic is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlantic
- Smithfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- New Geneva
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- New Geneva is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Geneva
- Farmington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Markleysburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fairchance
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fayette
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Fayette is located in Fayette County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
- Greene County (PA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Dilliner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dilliner is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilliner
- Dunkard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dunkard is located in Greene County (PA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunkard
- Greensboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Morris
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Towson, see our County-by-County Page for Towson.
Cemeteries Near Towson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Towson.
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 Towson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Towson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Howesville UMC Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Miller Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Denver Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- West Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Cobun Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pratt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Concord Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Blackwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sanders Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Kingwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (360 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<4> to the north of Newburg.
- Nazareth Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Red Oak Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
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.
While we didn't find Towson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Towson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Towson, with the one closest to Towson listed first.
- Jessop
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Jessop is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jessop
- West End
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- West End is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West End
- Tunnelton
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Howesville
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Howesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howesville
- Austen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Austen is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austen
- Snider
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Snider is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snider
- Newburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Kingwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Independence
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Independence is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
- Fellowsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fellowsville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fellowsville
- Rowlesburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Amblersburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Amblersburg is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amblersburg
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Macomber
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Macomber is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macomber
- Reedsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Gladesville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gladesville is located in Preston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Towson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Towson.
Newspapers Published in Towson ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Towson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Towson, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Towson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Towson:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Preston County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Grant County
- Harrison County
- Marion County
- Mineral County
- Monongalia County
- Randolph County
- Taylor County
- Tucker County
- Garrett County
- Fayette County
- Greene County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for West Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Towson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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> | 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- Towson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |