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 Vandalia (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 Vandalia. 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 hospitals and 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.
Vandalia is located in Lewis 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 Lewis County: Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Upshur & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Vandalia. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vandalia:
- Lewis County (The home county of Vandalia)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Alkires Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Crawford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Garton Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Garton Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garton Village
- Cox Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cox Town is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cox Town
- Weston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Berlin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Berlin is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Smith Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Smith Village is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Village
- Duffy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Duffy is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffy
- Aberdeen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Aberdeen is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen
- Jane Lew
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Westfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Westfield is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westfield
- Camden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Camden is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden
- Lightburn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lightburn is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lightburn
- Barbour County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Audra
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Audra is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Audra
- Elk City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Elk City is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
- Tygart Junction
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tygart Junction is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tygart Junction
- Clements ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clements is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clements
- Pepper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pepper is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepper
- Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Wilmoth ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wilmoth is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmoth
- Wellington Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Wellington Heights is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington Heights
- Junior
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Junior is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junior
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Philippi
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Bend
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Berryburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Berryburg is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryburg
- Calhoun
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Calhoun is located in Barbour County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calhoun
- Braxton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Knawl
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Knawl is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knawl
- Orlando
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Orlando is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orlando
- Bulltown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bulltown is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bulltown
- Falls Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Falls Mill is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mill
- Napier
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Napier is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napier
- Milroy
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Milroy is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milroy
- Burnsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Corley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Corley is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corley
- Rollyson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rollyson is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollyson
- Heaters
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arnett
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Arnett is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnett
- Flatwoods
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lloydsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lloydsville is located in Braxton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloydsville
- Doddridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Big Isaac
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Big Isaac is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Isaac
- Saint Clara
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Clara is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clara
- Coldwater
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coldwater is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Avon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Avon is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Miletus
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Miletus is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miletus
- Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Grove is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove
- Market
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Market is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Market
- New Milton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Doak
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Doak is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doak
- Smithburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Smithburg is located in Doddridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
- Gilmer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Stouts Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Stouts Mills is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stouts Mills
- Sand Fork
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sand Fork is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Fork
- Population from the 2020 Census: 145 people
- Baldwin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Baldwin is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
- Truebada
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Truebada is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truebada
- Troy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Troy is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Conings
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Conings is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conings
- Alice
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Alice is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alice
- Cedarville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Cedarville is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Glenville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Newberne
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Newberne is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newberne
- De Kalb
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- De Kalb is located in Gilmer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Kalb
- Normantown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Harrison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- McWhorter
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- McWhorter is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWhorter
- Lost Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lost Creek is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lost Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 462 people
- Tichenal
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Tichenal is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tichenal
- Craigmoor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Craigmoor is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigmoor
- West Milford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- West Milford is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Milford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 609 people
- Quiet Dell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Quiet Dell is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quiet Dell
- Stonewood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Stonewood is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,702 people
- Anmoore
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Nutter Fort
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Nutter Fort is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutter Fort
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,501 people
- Clarksburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Adamston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Adamston is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamston
- Bristol
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Despard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Despard is located in Harrison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Despard
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Midvale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Midvale is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
- Helvetia
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cassity
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cassity is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
- Pickens
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Florence ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Florence is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Womelsdorf
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Womelsdorf is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Womelsdorf
- Population from the 2020 Census: 235 people
- Huff ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Huff is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
- Weaver
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Weaver is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Tigheville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Tigheville is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigheville
- Mill Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
- Huttonsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lee Bell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
- Beverly
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ritchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Auburn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Auburn is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auburn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 88 people
- Lawford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lawford is located in Ritchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawford
- Taylor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Astor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Astor is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor
- Flemington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Flemington is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flemington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Brydon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brydon is located in Taylor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brydon
- Upshur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Abbott
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Abbott is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Frenchton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Hoover Town
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hoover Town is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoover Town
- Adrian
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Adrian is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adrian
- Rock Cave
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Wilsontown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
- Sago
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sago is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sago
- Buckhannon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sellers ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sellers is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellers
- Kanawha Head
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
- Reger
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Reger is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reger
- Alton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Beans Mill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Cleveland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Replete
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Replete is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Replete
- Hacker Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Big Run
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Big Run is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
- Orndoff
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Orndoff is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
- Erbacon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Erbacon is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
- Addison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Addison is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vandalia, see our County-by-County Page for Vandalia.
Cemeteries Near Vandalia ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vandalia.
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 Vandalia - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vandalia covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Morrison Hull Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Rexroad Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Post Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Beechtown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Slab Camp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Glady Fork Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Long Point Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Horner Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rhodes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Chestnut Flat Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rock Cave Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (354 more) ...
- Bush Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Rockford - Pletcher Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Weston Masonic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Vandalia had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vandalia, with the one closest to Vandalia listed first.
- Walkersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Walkersville is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkersville
- Crawford
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Crawford is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Frenchton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Frenchton is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenchton
- Alkires Mills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Alkires Mills is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alkires Mills
- Roanoke
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jacksonville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jacksonville is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacksonville
- Horner
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Horner is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horner
- Arnold
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Arnold is located in Lewis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arnold
- Boyd ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Boyd is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
- French Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Cave
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rock Cave is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Cave
- Hinkleville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hinkleville is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinkleville
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Lorentz
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lorentz is located in Upshur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorentz
- Ireland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Weston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vandalia. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vandalia.
Newspapers Published in Vandalia ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vandalia.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vandalia, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vandalia.
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 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 Vandalia:
- Websites specific to West Virginia
- Pages specific to Lewis County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barbour County
- Braxton County
- Doddridge County
- Gilmer County
- Harrison County
- Randolph County
- Ritchie County
- Taylor 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Vandalia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Vandalia) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |