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 primarily located in Carroll County. A portion of Bethany extends into Wythe 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 Carroll County: Floyd, Grayson, Patrick, Pulaski, Surry & Wythe.
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:
- Carroll County (The home county of Bethany)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Shorts Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Shorts Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorts Creek
- Sheep Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sheep Town is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheep Town
- Oak Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Sylvatus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Woodlawn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Star
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Star is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star
- Hillsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pipers Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Pipers Gap is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pipers Gap
- Dugspur
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Drenn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Drenn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenn
- Fancy Gap
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gladesboro
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Gladesboro is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladesboro
- Bland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Mechanicsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Bland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bastian
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hicksville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Round Bottom
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Round Bottom is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Rocky Gap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Indian Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Duncan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Duncan is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Sowers
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sowers is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sowers
- Galax City
- Galax
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Poplar Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Thessalia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Grayson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Fries
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Baywood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Baywood is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
- Elk Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Low Gap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Low Gap is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Independence
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bridle Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
- Flat Ridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Childress
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Childress is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
- Riner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Patrick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Ararat
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Meadows of Dan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Carters Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Carters Mill is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Mill
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Draper
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mack Creek Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Pulaski
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hilton Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Wurno
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Newbern
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Dublin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Snowville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Snowville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowville
- Fairlawn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Cowan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Parrott
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Radford City
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- New Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Radford Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Simpkins Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Sunset Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Radford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Sugar Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Atkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Austinville
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ivanhoe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Siloam
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Siloam is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Fort Chiswell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
- Locust Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Locust Hill is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Max Meadows
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kent
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Wytheville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rowe Crossroads
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Rowe Crossroads is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe Crossroads
- Speedwell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Speedwell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedwell
- Crockett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Rural Retreat
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Alleghany County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Edmonds
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Edmonds is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonds
- Ennice
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hooker
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Hooker is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Glade Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Amelia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Sparta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sparta is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,723 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
- Roaring Gap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Piney Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Surry County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany, with the one closest to Bethany listed first.
- Low Gap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Round Peak
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Round Peak is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Peak
- Red Brush
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Red Brush is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Brush
- Toast
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Toast is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toast
- Devotion
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Devotion is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devotion
- Flat Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Rock is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
- Mount Airy
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sheltontown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sheltontown is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheltontown
- White Plains
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- White Plains is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
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.
- King Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Frazier Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Pickett Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fosters Falls Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Trigg Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sharp Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Alford Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Round Knob Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Shorts Creek - Frazier Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sanders Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Burnett - Hanks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (595 more) ...
- Alley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnett - Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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>
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.
- Shorts Creek
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Shorts Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorts Creek
- Austinville
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Fosters Falls
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fosters Falls is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosters Falls
- Bertha
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bertha is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
- Walton Furnace
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Walton Furnace is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton Furnace
- Ivanhoe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Grayson
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grayson is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Sylvatus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Grahams Forge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Grahams Forge is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grahams Forge
- Barren Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kayoulah
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kayoulah is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kayoulah
- Woodlawn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Max Meadows
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Star
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Star is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star
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 32 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 18 miles [29 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 like to start 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 Virginia
- Pages specific to Carroll County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bland County
- Floyd County
- Galax City
- Giles County
- Grayson County
- Montgomery County
- Patrick County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Smyth County
- Wythe County
- Alleghany County
- Surry 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 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' 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'. |