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 Ajax (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 Ajax. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.
Ajax is located in Pittsylvania County.
To see how the shape of 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 Pittsylvania County: Caswell (NC), Rockingham (NC), Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, Halifax & Henry.
Below are the counties that are near Ajax. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ajax:
- Pittsylvania County (The home county of Ajax)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Museville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Museville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Museville
- Pittsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Worlds
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Worlds is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worlds
- Gretna
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Weal
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Weal is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weal
- Whittles
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whittles is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittles
- Whittles has also been known as:
- Whittle's Depot
- Whittle's Station
- Grady
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Grady is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Swansonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Swansonville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansonville
- Chatham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
- Sheva
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Sonans
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Tightsqueeze
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tightsqueeze is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightsqueeze
- Transco Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Transco Village is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transco Village
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Radford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Huddleston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Moneta
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Davis Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Goodview
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Chamblissburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Coonsville ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Coonsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coonsville
- Lowry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Goode
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bellevue
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Montvale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Blue Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Laymantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Laymantown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laymantown
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Leesville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Altavista
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Lynch Station
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Bedford Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Lawyers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Timberlake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Timberlake is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
- Yellow Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Melrose
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Gladys
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Powhatan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Powhatan is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhatan
- Danville City
- Danville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Penhook
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- Union Hall
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Shore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Westlake Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Redwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Villa ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Burnt Chimney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Rocky Mount
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sydnorsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Sydnorsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydnorsville
- Barfoot
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Barfoot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfoot
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Cody
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Leda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Sign Rock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Rodden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Leatherwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Oak Level
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Level is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Level
- Axton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Laurel Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Park is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Park
- Reed Creek Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Reed Creek Village is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek Village
- Chatmoss
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Chatmoss is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatmoss
- Irisburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Irisburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irisburg
- Collinsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stanleytown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Heights is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Heights
- Bassett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fieldale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sandy Level
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sandy Level is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Level
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Martinsville City
- Martinsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Garden City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Buena Vista
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Roanoke
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Roanoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Montgomery Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Vinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cave Spring
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ajax, see our County-by-County Page for Ajax.
Cemeteries Near Ajax ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ajax.
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 Ajax - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ajax covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Doss Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- King Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bradner - Toller Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Burial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hancock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Smith Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Blankenship Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Young Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Adkins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Poindexter - Saunders Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (692 more) ...
- Newbill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Perdue Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Kemp - David Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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 Ajax in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ajax.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ajax, with the one closest to Ajax listed first.
- Penhook
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Museville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Museville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Museville
- Pullens
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pullens is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullens
- Toshes
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Toshes is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toshes
- Pittsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Kasey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Kasey is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasey
- Union Hall
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Worlds
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Worlds is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worlds
- Brights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Brights is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brights
- Scruggs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Scruggs is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scruggs
- Dundee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dundee is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Otter View ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Otter View is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter View
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Gladehill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Gladehill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladehill
- Callands
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Callands is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callands
- Galveston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Galveston is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ajax. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ajax.
Newspapers Published in Ajax ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ajax.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ajax, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ajax.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Ajax:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Pittsylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Botetourt County
- Campbell County
- Danville City
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Henry County
- Madison County
- Martinsville City
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for 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 Ajax, 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- Ajax) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |