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 Altavista (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 Altavista. 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.
Altavista is located in Campbell 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 Campbell County: Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Charlotte, Halifax & Pittsylvania.
Below are the counties that are near Altavista. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Altavista:
- Campbell County (The home county of Altavista)
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Lynch Station
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Leesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Yellow Branch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Gladys
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bedford Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Lawyers
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Timberlake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Timberlake is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
- Melrose
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Mount Zion
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Rustburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Powhatan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Powhatan is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhatan
- Brookneal
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Amherst County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Madison Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Joshua Falls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Joshua Falls is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joshua Falls
- Winesap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Winesap is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winesap
- Coolwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Coolwell is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolwell
- Pedlar Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pedlar Mills is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pedlar Mills
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Spring Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Chap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chap is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chap
- Spout Spring
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Spout Spring is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spout Spring
- Appomattox
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Huddleston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Forest
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bellevue
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Goode
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Lowry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Davis Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Moneta
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Radford
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Joppa Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Cifax
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cifax is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cifax
- Boonsboro
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Boonsboro is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonsboro
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Abell ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Aspenwall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Phenix
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Phenix is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Rough Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rough Creek is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Creek
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- North Shore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Penhook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Westlake Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Union Hall
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Burnt Chimney
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Redwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Villa ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Cody
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Leda
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Rabat
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Loftis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Nathalie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Rock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Rodden
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Crystal Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Clays Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clays Mill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Mill
- Jones
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Lynchburg City
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Woodbine Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Woodbine Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Village
- Lynchburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lavino Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lavino Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavino Village
- Pittsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Hurt
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hurt is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hurt <1>
- Brutus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Renan
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Gretna
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pittsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Chalk Level
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Markham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Sonans
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Sheva
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Whittles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- 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
- Riceville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Java
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Altavista, see our County-by-County Page for Altavista.
Cemeteries Near Altavista ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Altavista.
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 Altavista - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Altavista covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Green Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Altavista Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Vaughn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Old Bethany Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Independence Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Winfall Church of God of Prophecy Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Leftwich Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (403 more) ...
- Stone Road Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Midway Baptist Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- St. John Baptist Church Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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 Altavista in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Altavista.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Altavista, with the one closest to Altavista listed first.
- Lynch Station
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Motley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Motley is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Hill Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hill Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Grove
- Perrows
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Perrows is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrows
- Leesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Brutus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Evington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Evington is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evington
- Level Run
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Level Run is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Run
- Glenland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glenland is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenland
- Marysville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Marysville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Brights
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brights is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brights
- Straightstone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Straightstone is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straightstone
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cedar Forest
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Forest is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Forest
- Gillespie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Gillespie is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillespie
- Yellow Branch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Altavista. See our List of 1890's Communities around Altavista.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Altavista ...
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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Altavista.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Altavista. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Altavista and those printed in the larger area surrounding Altavista.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 18 miles [29 km]<4> of Altavista.
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 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 Altavista:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Campbell County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amherst County
- Appomattox County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Charlotte County
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Lynchburg City
- Pittsylvania 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 Altavista, 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- Altavista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |