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 Bells Valley (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 Bells Valley. 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.
Name Variations for Bells Valley ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Bells Valley: Bells Vly. (or less commonly used: Bells Vally. or Bells Vlly.)
- While the name of this community is Bells Valley, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Bells Valley may originally have been Bell's Valley.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Bells Valley might be written as Bell Valley.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Bells Valley is located in Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County: Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt & Nelson.
Below are the counties that are near Bells Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bells Valley:
- Rockbridge County (The home county of Bells Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Goshen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kerrs Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
- Davis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Davis is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Fairfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Marlbrook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
- East Lexington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
- Riverside
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Zollman ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
- Buffalo Forge
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Buffalo Forge is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Forge
- Fancy Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
- Longwood ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Glasgow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Griffith
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Griffith is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Iron Gate
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Clifton Forge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Selma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Selma is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Low Moor
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Alto
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alto is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
- Forks of Buffalo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Forks of Buffalo is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks of Buffalo
- Allwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Allwood is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allwood
- Lowesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sandidges
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sandidges is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandidges
- Augusta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Craigsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Marble Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Marble Valley is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
- Newport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Newport is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Pond Gap ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pond Gap is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Gap
- Deerfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Deerfield is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Middlebrook
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Chapin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chapin is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Spottswood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Spottswood is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
- Greenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Steeles Tavern
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Arbor Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Arbor Hill is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- West Augusta
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- West Augusta is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Augusta
- Churchville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bath County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Yost
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Millboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Burnsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Bath Alum
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Bolar
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bolar is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
- Warm Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mitchelltown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Mitchelltown is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
- Cowardin ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cowardin is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
- Healing Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Carloover
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Carloover is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
- Mountain Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mountain Grove is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Greenwood ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Greenwood is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Glen Wilton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
- Gala
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gala is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
- Haden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Haden is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
- Buena Vista City
- Buena Vista
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Highland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Clover Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Clover Creek is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
- McDowell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Buckeye is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Meadowdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Meadowdale is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
- Monterey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Palo Alto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Palo Alto is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto
- Hightown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hightown is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
- Possum Trot
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Possum Trot is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
- Lexington City
- Lexington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Nelson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Tyro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Massies Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Massies Mill is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massies Mill
- Jonesboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jonesboro is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
- Staunton City
- Staunton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Waynesboro City
- Waynesboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pocahontas County (WV)
- Frost
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Frost is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bells Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Bells Valley.
Cemeteries Near Bells Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bells Valley.
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 Bells Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bells Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Little River Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Craigsville Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bratton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Herman Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- The Pines Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Green Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- New Providence Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Mary Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chestnut Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hartbarger Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kerrs Creek Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (124 more) ...
- Bethany Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- New Monmouth Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Timber Ridge Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bells Valley had a population of 57 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bells Valley, with the one closest to Bells Valley listed first.
- Goshen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Zack
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Zack is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zack
- Craigsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Yost
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Armstrong
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Armstrong is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Marble Valley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Marble Valley is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
- Pond Gap ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pond Gap is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Gap
- Augusta Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Augusta Springs is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Augusta Springs
- Green Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Green Valley is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- Millboro Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Millboro Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millboro Springs
- Millboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Ferrol
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ferrol is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferrol
- California
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- California is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for California
- Deerfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Deerfield is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bells Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bells Valley.
Newspapers Published in Bells Valley ...
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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bells Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bells Valley, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bells Valley.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Bells Valley:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Rockbridge County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alleghany County
- Amherst County
- Augusta County
- Bath County
- Botetourt County
- Buena Vista City
- Highland County
- Lexington City
- Nelson County
- Staunton City
- Waynesboro City
- Pocahontas County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Bells Valley, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Bells Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |