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 Bethany (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 Bethany. 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 and hospitals 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.
Bethany is located in Rockingham County.
To see how the shape of North Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Rockingham County: Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Stokes, Henry (VA) & Pittsylvania (VA).
Below are the counties that are near Bethany. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethany:
- Rockingham County (The home county of Bethany)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Wittys Crossroads
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Wittys Crossroads is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittys Crossroads
- Gold Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Gold Hill is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
- Ellisboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ellisboro is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellisboro
- Norwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Norwood is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Wentworth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wentworth is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,734 people
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Belmont
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Belmont is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Shiloh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Shiloh is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Reidsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Mayodan
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Providence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Providence is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Stoneville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- College Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- College Village is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Village
- Alamance County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Altamahaw
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Altamahaw is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamahaw
- Ossipee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ossipee is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossipee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 593 people
- Clover Garden
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Clover Garden is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Garden
- Westbrook Forest
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Westbrook Forest is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Forest
- Westbrook
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Westbrook is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook
- Birchwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Birchwood is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood
- Country Club Acres
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Country Club Acres is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Club Acres
- Elon College
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Elon is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,186 people
- Glenwood Acres
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood Acres is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Acres
- Random Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Random Hills is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Random Hills
- Sherwood Forest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sherwood Forest is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Forest
- Westview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Westview is located in Alamance County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westview
- Caswell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Ashland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Ashland is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Quick
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Quick is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick
- Locust Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Locust Hill is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Stony Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Stony Creek is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
- Bethel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Pelham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pelham is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Jericho
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Jericho is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jericho
- West Yanceyville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- West Yanceyville is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Yanceyville
- Whitetown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Whitetown is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitetown
- Anderson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Anderson is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Yanceyville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Gatewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gatewood is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
- Providence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Providence is located in Caswell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Davidson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Abotts Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Abotts Creek is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abotts Creek
- Wallburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gum Tree
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gum Tree is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gum Tree
- Bethany ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bethany is located in Davidson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Forsyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Belews Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Belews Creek is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belews Creek
- Stonewood Acres
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Stonewood Acres is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewood Acres
- Pine Knolls
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Knolls is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Knolls
- Crims Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Crims Crossroads is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crims Crossroads
- Benefit ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Benefit is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benefit
- Bonanza Hills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bonanza Hills is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza Hills
- Brinkley Estates
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brinkley Estates is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinkley Estates
- Greystone Forest
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Greystone Forest is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greystone Forest
- Kynwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kynwood is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kynwood
- White Road ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- White Road is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Road
- Abington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Abington is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
- Applegate
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Applegate is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Applegate
- Cliffwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cliffwood is located in Forsyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliffwood
- Guilford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Scalesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Scalesville is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalesville
- Summerfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Stokesdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Browns Summit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rudd
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rudd is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudd
- Oak Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spicewood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Spicewood is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spicewood
- Fairfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Fairfield is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- White Oak
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- White Oak is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Guilford College
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Guilford College is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guilford College
- Cumberland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cumberland is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Greensboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Colfax
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Randolph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Archdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Redcross
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Redcross is located in Randolph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redcross
- Trinity
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Stokes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Pine Hall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bailey Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Bailey Town is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey Town
- Walnut Cove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fulp
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fulp is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulp
- Upper Sawra Town ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Upper Sawra Town is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Sawra Town
- Amostown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Amostown is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amostown
- Sandy Ridge
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Meadows
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Meadows is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadows
- Oak Ridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Ridge is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Ridge
- Danbury
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Germanton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Snow Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Hill is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Neatman
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Neatman is located in Stokes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neatman
- Henry County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Ridgeway
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Sandy Level
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Sandy Level is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Level
- Horse Pasture
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Horse Pasture is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Pasture
- Irisburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Irisburg is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irisburg
- Chatmoss
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Chatmoss is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatmoss
- Axton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Preston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Preston is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Laurel Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Laurel Park is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Park
- Fieldale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Villa Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Villa Heights is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Heights
- Collinsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Leatherwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Leatherwood is located in Henry County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Stanleytown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Martinsville City (VA)
- Martinsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Patrick County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Nettleridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Nettleridge is located in Patrick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nettleridge
- Stella
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Stella is located in Patrick County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Critz
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Patrick Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsylvania County (VA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Cascade
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cascade is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade
- Mount Cross
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Cross is located in Pittsylvania County (VA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Cross
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethany, see our County-by-County Page for Bethany.
Cemeteries Near Bethany ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethany.
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 Bethany - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethany covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Mt. Bethel Covenant Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Liberty Wesleyan Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Midway UMC Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Straightway House of Prayer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pleasantville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Flat Rock UMC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Newnam Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woodland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wentworth Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ellington Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Riverview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Madison Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (233 more) ...
- Deep Springs Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Palestine UMC Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gallaway Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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>
While we didn't find Bethany in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethany.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Scalesville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Scalesville is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalesville
- Pleasantville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pleasantville is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasantville
- Ellisboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ellisboro is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellisboro
- Summerfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hillsdale
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hillsdale is located in Guilford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Monroeton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Monroeton is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroeton
- Stokesdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wentworth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wentworth is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,734 people
- Madison
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Browns Summit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Benaja
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Benaja is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benaja
- Reidsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Pine Hall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Stoneville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Oak Ridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethany. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethany.
Newspapers Published in Bethany ...
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 Bethany.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethany, 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 Bethany.
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 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 Bethany:
- Websites specific to North Carolina
- Pages specific to Rockingham County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alamance County
- Caswell County
- Davidson County
- Forsyth County
- Guilford County
- Randolph County
- Stokes County
- Henry County
- Martinsville City
- Patrick County
- Pittsylvania County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for North Carolina
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 Bethany, 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' (or 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- Bethany) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |