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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 Walnut (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 Walnut. 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 doctors 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.

Walnut is located in Pocahontas 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 Pocahontas County: Bath (VA), Highland (VA), Greenbrier, Pendleton, Randolph & Webster.

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

  • Pocahontas County     (The home county of Walnut)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walnut, with the one closest to Walnut listed first.
    • Slaty Fork
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Cass
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Sitlington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
    • Edray
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Edray is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
    • Onoto
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Onoto is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
    • Thorny Creek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
    • Arbovale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Green Bank
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Marlinton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Frost
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Frost is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
    • Durbin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Frank
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Frank is located in Pocahontas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frank
    • Buckeye
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Greenbrier County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walnut, with the one closest to Walnut listed first.
    • Loveridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Loveridge is located in Greenbrier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loveridge
    • Oscar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Oscar is located in Greenbrier County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
  • Nicholas County
    • Richwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Randolph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walnut, with the one closest to Walnut listed first.
    • Mingo
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Blue Spring
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
    • Valley Head
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Monterville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Elkwater
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Elkwater is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
    • Florence ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Florence is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
    • Pickens
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lee Bell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Lee Bell is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Bell
    • Helvetia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Huttonsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Mill Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Mill Creek is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 681 people
    • Huff ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Huff is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huff
    • Cassity
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Cassity is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cassity
  • Upshur County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walnut, with the one closest to Walnut listed first.
    • Goshen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Goshen is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen
    • Alexander
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Alexander is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander
    • Alton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Alton is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
    • Kanawha Head
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Kanawha Head is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kanawha Head
    • Beans Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Beans Mill is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Mill
    • Queens
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Queens is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queens
    • Wilsontown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wilsontown is located in Upshur County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsontown
  • Webster County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walnut, with the one closest to Walnut listed first.
    • Ralph
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Ralph is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ralph
    • Addison
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Addison is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 660 people
    • Orndoff
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Orndoff is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orndoff
    • Excelsior
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Excelsior is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
    • Hacker Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Upperglade
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Upperglade is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upperglade
    • Big Run
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Big Run is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Run
    • Cowen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Halo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Halo is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halo
    • Welch Glade
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Welch Glade is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welch Glade
    • Cleveland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Camden-on-Gauley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Camden-on-Gauley is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camden-on-Gauley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 143 people
    • Erbacon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Erbacon is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erbacon
  • Bath County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walnut, with the one closest to Walnut listed first.
    • Mountain Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mountain Grove is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
    • Bolar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bolar is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
    • Burnsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Burnsville is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
    • Cowardin ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cowardin is located in Bath County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
    • Warm Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Highland County (VA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walnut, with the one closest to Walnut listed first.
    • Buckeye ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Buckeye is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
    • Meadowdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Meadowdale is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
    • Hightown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Hightown is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
    • Monterey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Possum Trot
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Possum Trot is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
    • Clover Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Clover Creek is located in Highland County (VA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek

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

Cemeteries Near Walnut ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Walnut.

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

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

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

  • Varner Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Hannah Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Gibson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Ware Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cowger Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Hilltop Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Wanless Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Simmons Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Stainaker Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Baxter Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Meadowland Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Bethel Church Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (95 more) ...
    • Moore Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Bussard Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lindsay Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)

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

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

  • Blue Spring
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Blue Spring is located in Randolph County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Spring
  • Clover Lick
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Clover Lick is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Lick
  • Valley Head
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Monterville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Edray
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Edray is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
  • Dunmore
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Dilleys Mill
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Dilleys Mill is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilleys Mill
  • Marlinton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Green Bank
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Bergoo
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Bergoo is located in Webster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bergoo
  • Frost
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Frost is located in Pocahontas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
  • Woodzell
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Woodzell is located in Webster County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodzell
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Elkwater
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Elkwater is located in Randolph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkwater
    • Bernardstown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Bernardstown is located in Webster County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernardstown
    • Buckeye
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Walnut ...

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 9 newspapers that have been published in the area around Walnut.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Walnut, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Walnut.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Walnut:

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 Walnut, 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- Walnut) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.