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Home >> State of West Virginia >> Mingo County >> Varney >> 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 Varney (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 Varney. 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 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.

Varney is located in Mingo 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 Mingo County: Martin (KY), Pike (KY), Buchanan (VA), Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Wayne & Wyoming.

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

  • Mingo County     (The home county of Varney)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Red Jacket
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Red Jacket is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Jacket
    • Musick
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Musick is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Musick
    • Matewan
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Delbarton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Blackberry City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Blackberry City is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackberry City
    • Sprigg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Sprigg is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprigg
    • Pie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Pie is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pie
    • Thacker
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Thacker is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thacker
    • Myrtle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Myrtle is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle
    • Chattaroy
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Chattaroy is located in Mingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattaroy
    • Williamson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Wharncliffe
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Boone County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Manila
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Manila is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manila
    • Clothier
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Clothier is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clothier
    • Hewett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hewett is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hewett
    • Ottawa
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ottawa is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottawa
    • Havana
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Havana is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havana
    • Jeffrey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jeffrey is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffrey
    • Stark
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Stark is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stark
    • Greenview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenview is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenview
    • Ramage
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ramage is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramage
    • Secoal
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Secoal is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Secoal
    • Powell Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Powell Creek is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell Creek
    • Barrett
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Barrett is located in Boone County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrett
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Harts
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Wewanta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Wewanta is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wewanta
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Stirrat
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Stirrat is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stirrat
    • Omar
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Holden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Holden is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holden
    • Switzer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Switzer is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Switzer
    • Whitman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wilkinson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Hedgeview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Hedgeview is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hedgeview
    • Thompson Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Thompson Town is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson Town
    • Troy Town
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Troy Town is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy Town
    • Man
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Man is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Man
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Man <1>
    • Logan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Fort Branch
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Fort Branch is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Branch
  • McDowell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Wyoming City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Wyoming City is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming City
    • Panther
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Panther is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther
    • Iaeger
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Iaeger is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iaeger
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 232 people
    • Union City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Union City is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
    • Wilmore
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilmore is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmore
    • Avondale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Avondale is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
    • Jackson Flats
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jackson Flats is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
    • Paynesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Paynesville is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
    • Big Sandy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Big Sandy is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Sandy
    • Roderfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Roderfield is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roderfield
    • Bradshaw
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Davy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Davy is located in McDowell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 324 people
  • Wayne County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Stonecoal
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Stonecoal is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonecoal
    • Wilsondale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilsondale is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsondale
    • Doane
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Doane is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doane
    • Dunlow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Dunlow is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlow
    • Cove Gap
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Cove Gap is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Gap
  • Wyoming County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Cub City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Cub City is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cub City
    • Uno
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Uno is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Uno
    • Sun Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Sun Hill is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun Hill
    • Baileysville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Baileysville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baileysville
    • Clear Fork
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Clear Fork is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Fork
    • Stoneville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Stoneville is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
    • Fanny
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Fanny is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fanny
    • Oceana
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Turkey
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Turkey is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turkey
    • Wyoming
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Wyoming is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
    • Kopperston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Kopperston is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kopperston
    • Woosley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Woosley is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woosley
  • Floyd County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Osborn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Osborn is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
    • Betsy Layne
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Harold
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Harold is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harold
    • Stanville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Tram
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Tram is located in Floyd County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tram
    • Ivel
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Martin County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Lovely
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Lovely is located in Martin County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovely
    • Pilgrim
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Pilgrim is located in Martin County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
    • Beauty
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Beauty is located in Martin County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauty
    • Warfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hode
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hode is located in Martin County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hode
    • Debord
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Inez
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Inez is located in Martin County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inez
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 614 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Inez <1>
    • Tomahawk
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tomahawk is located in Martin County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tomahawk
  • Pike County (KY)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Buskirk
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Buskirk is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buskirk
    • McCarr
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Freeburn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Freeburn is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeburn
    • Hardy
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hardy is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy
    • Ransom
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ransom is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ransom
    • Toler
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Toler is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toler
    • Belfry
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • South Williamson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Majestic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Majestic is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Majestic
    • Huddy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Huddy is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huddy
    • Stone
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Stone is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone
    • Forest Hills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Forest Hills is located in Pike County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
  • Buchanan County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Varney, with the one closest to Varney listed first.
    • Kelsa
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Kelsa is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelsa
    • Big Rock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Big Rock is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
    • Matney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Matney is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matney
    • Grundy
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Grundy is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grundy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 883 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Grundy <1>
    • Jackson Flats
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jackson Flats is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson Flats
    • Paynesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Paynesville is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
    • Royal City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Royal City is located in Buchanan County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal City
    • Vansant
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Varney ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Varney.

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

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

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

  • Musick Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Varney Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Hatfield Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Hatfield Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Varney Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hatfield Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Varney Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Duty Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Mahon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hatfield Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Chafin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Musick Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (690 more) ...
    • Williams Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Upper Curry Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Buskirk Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)

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>

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

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

  • Oilville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oilville is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oilville
  • Phelps
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Canada
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Pinsonfork
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Pinsonfork is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinsonfork
  • Jamboree
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Jamboree is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamboree
  • Coleman
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Coleman is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
  • Rural
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Rural is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rural
  • Christian
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Christian is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christian
  • Man
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Man is located in Logan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Man
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Man <1>
  • Paw Paw
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Paw Paw is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paw Paw
  • Kimper
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Kimper is located in Pike County (KY)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimper
  • North Spring
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • North Spring is located in Wyoming County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Spring
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Hanover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Hanover is located in Wyoming County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanover
    • Pilgrim
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Pilgrim is located in Martin County (KY)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilgrim
    • Warfield
      (20 miles [32.2 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 Varney. See our List of 1890's Communities around Varney.

Newspapers Published in Varney ...

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 7 newspapers that have been published in the area around Varney.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Varney, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Varney.

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 Varney:

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 Varney, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- Varney) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.