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 Bedford (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 Bedford. 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.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bedford ...

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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bedford.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

• A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bedford. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bedford and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bedford.
• An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<1> of Bedford.

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 helpful 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 Bedford:

• Websites specific to Virginia
  • Jump to Cyndi's List
  • Jump to Family Search
  • Jump to Genealogy Trails
  • Website for the Library of Virginia

• Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
  • Cemetery Junction: Cemeteries of Virginia
  • Cyndi's List
  • Cemeteries of Virginia
  • FamilySearch.org: Cemeteries of Virginia
  • Find-A-Grave: Home Page
  • Interment.net
  • Cemeteries of Virginia

Cemeteries Near Bedford ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bedford.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

• Otey Street Cemetery
  (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Otey Street Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Otey Street Cemetery
• Longwood Cemetery
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Longwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Longwood Cemetery
• Fairmount Cemetery
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fairmount Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fairmount Cemetery
• Rose Cemetery
  (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rose Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rose Cemetery
• Tate Cemetery
  (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tate Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tate Cemetery
• Mountain Cemetery
  (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • To give a relative sense of its location, the Mountain Cemetery is located 7 miles [11.3 km]<1> to the south of Bedford.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mountain Cemetery
  • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2417214 <3>
• Bond Cemetery
  (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bond Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bond Cemetery
• Coffee Cemetery
  (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Coffee Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Coffee Cemetery
• Pisgah Presbyterian Church Cemetery
  (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pisgah Presbyterian Church Cemetery
  • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1979581 <3>
• Whitten - Hogan Family Cemetery
  (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Whitten - Hogan Family Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Whitten - Hogan Family Cemetery
  • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2174675 <3>
• Massie Family Cemetery
  (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • To give a relative sense of its location, the Massie Family Cemetery is located 5 miles [8 km]<1> to the east of Forest.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Massie Family Cemetery
  • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2484544 <3>
• Rock Pike Baptist Church Cemetery
  (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rock Pike Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2174218 <3>
• Continue List   (503 more) ...
  • Terrace View Church Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Terrace View Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #754021 <3>
  • Virginia Memorial Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Virginia Memorial Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Virginia Memorial Park
  • Norwood Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Norwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Norwood Cemetery

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bedford had a population of 2,897 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bedford had a population of 6,644 people.

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

• Bunker Hill
  (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bunker Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
  • Bunker Hill is located in Bedford County
• Robertsons ‑ Historic
  (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Robertsons have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robertsons
  • Robertsons is located in Bedford County
• Peaksville
  (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Peaksville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
  • Peaksville is located in Bedford County
• Lowry
  (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
  • Lowry is located in Bedford County
• Thaxton
  (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thaxton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thaxton
  • Thaxton is located in Bedford County
• Otter Hill
  (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Otter Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Hill
  • Otter Hill is located in Bedford County
• Otterville
  (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Otterville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterville
  • Otterville is located in Bedford County
• Goode
  (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goode
  • Goode is located in Bedford County
  • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Goode <6>
• Bellevue
  (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bellevue have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
  • Bellevue is located in Bedford County
• Cifax
  (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cifax have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cifax
  • Cifax is located in Bedford County
• Reba
  (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reba have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reba
  • Reba is located in Bedford County
• Coonsville ‑ Historic
  (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coonsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coonsville
  • Coonsville is located in Bedford County
• Continue List   (14 more) ...
  • Davis Mill
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Davis Mill have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
    • Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
  • Chestnut Fork
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chestnut Fork have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Fork
    • Chestnut Fork is located in Bedford County
  • Gillespie
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gillespie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillespie
    • Gillespie is located in Bedford County

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

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Bedford: www.ci.bedford.va.us/

The official website for State of Virginia: https://www.virginia.gov/