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 Blair Ferry (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 Blair Ferry. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Blair Ferry is located in Grayson 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 Grayson County: Alleghany (NC), Ashe (NC), Surry (NC), Johnson (TN), Carroll, Smyth, Washington & Wythe.
Below are the counties that are near Blair Ferry. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blair Ferry:
- Grayson County (The home county of Blair Ferry)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Fries
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Baywood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Baywood is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
- Low Gap
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Low Gap is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Independence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Elk Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bridle Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
- Flat Ridge
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Trout Dale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rugby
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Bland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Bland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Oak Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Woodlawn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sheep Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sheep Town is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheep Town
- Pipers Gap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pipers Gap is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pipers Gap
- Shorts Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shorts Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorts Creek
- Drenn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Drenn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenn
- Hillsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Lambsburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Fancy Gap
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Star
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Star is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star
- Sylvatus
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Cana
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Indian Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Duncan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Duncan is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Galax City
- Galax
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Patrick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Ararat
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Carters Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- 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 Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Draper
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Mack Creek Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Pulaski
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hilton Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Wurno
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Newbern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Sugar Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Atkins
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Carmel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Carmel is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Ivanhoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Austinville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Speedwell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Speedwell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedwell
- Siloam
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Siloam is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Rowe Crossroads
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rowe Crossroads is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe Crossroads
- Fort Chiswell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
- Kent
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Locust Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Locust Hill is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Crockett
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Max Meadows
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Wytheville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Rural Retreat
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alleghany County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Edmonds
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Edmonds is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonds
- Ennice
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Hooker
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Hooker is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Glade Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Sparta
(16 miles [25.7 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>
- Amelia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Roaring Gap
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Piney Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Topia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Scottville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Ashe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Weavers Ford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Weavers Ford is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weavers Ford
- Grassy Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Crumpler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Transou
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Transou is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transou
- Helton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Helton is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Surry County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Low Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Round Peak
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Round Peak is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Peak
- Devotion
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Devotion is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devotion
- Red Brush
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Red Brush is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Brush
- Mountain Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Mountain Park is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
- Thurmond
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Toast
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Toast is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toast
- Zephyr
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Zephyr is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zephyr
- Mount Airy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dobson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Rock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Rock is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
- White Plains
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- White Plains is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
- Wilkes County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Abshers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Abshers is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abshers
- Traphill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Moxley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Moxley is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moxley
- Zebra ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Zebra is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zebra
- Springfield ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Springfield is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Lomax
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lomax is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lomax
- Dehart
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dehart is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dehart
- McGrady
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blair Ferry, see our County-by-County Page for Blair Ferry.
Cemeteries Near Blair Ferry ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blair Ferry.
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 Blair Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blair Ferry covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Fries Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- McKenzie Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Isom Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Midway Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Dixon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Providence Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Warrick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Smith - Byrd Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Leonard Memorial Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Blair Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Continue List (643 more) ...
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jennings Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Nuckolls Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Blair Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blair Ferry.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blair Ferry, with the one closest to Blair Ferry listed first.
- Stevens Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Stevens Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Creek
- Wolf Glade
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wolf Glade is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Glade
- Grayson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Grayson is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Carsonville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Carsonville is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsonville
- Spring Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Spring Valley is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Woodlawn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pipers Gap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pipers Gap is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pipers Gap
- Fallville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Fallville is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallville
- Ivanhoe
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Peach Bottom
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Peach Bottom is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peach Bottom
- Ennice
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Edmonds
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Edmonds is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonds
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Austinville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Cripple Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cripple Creek is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cripple Creek
- Independence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blair Ferry. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blair Ferry.
Newspapers Published in Blair Ferry ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blair Ferry.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blair Ferry, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blair Ferry.
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 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 Blair Ferry:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Grayson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bland County
- Carroll County
- Floyd County
- Galax City
- Patrick County
- Pulaski County
- Smyth County
- Wythe County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Surry County
- Wilkes 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> | 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 Blair Ferry, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Blair Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |