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 Blake Forest (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 Blake Forest. 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 Blake Forest ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Blake Forest: Blake Frst.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Blake Forest is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Craig, Floyd, Giles, Pulaski & Roanoke.
Below are the counties that are near Blake Forest. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blake Forest:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Blake Forest)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Montgomery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Montgomery is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Houchins
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Houchins is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
- Old Farm Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Old Farm Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Farm Village
- Raintree Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Raintree Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raintree Village
- Alleghany Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Alleghany Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany Springs
- Ellett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Oak Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Shawsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Rogers
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rogers is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers
- Christiansburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Merrimac
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Merrimac is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
- Pilot
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Blacksburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Cloverdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Runaway Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Runaway Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Village
- Apple Tree Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Apple Tree Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Tree Village
- Daleville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Haymakertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
- Amsterdam
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Laymantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Laymantown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laymantown
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Dugspur
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pike City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Pike City is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike City
- Sylvatus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Huffman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Huffman is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Simmonsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Simmonsville is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
- Captain
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Captain is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captain
- Abbott
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Abbott is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- New Castle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Terrys Fork
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Terrys Fork is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrys Fork
- Sowers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sowers is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sowers
- Simpsons
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Simpsons is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsons
- Poff
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Poff is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poff
- Pizarro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pizarro is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pizarro
- Floyd
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Duncan
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Haycock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Haycock is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haycock
- Indian Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Algoma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Algoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoma
- Boones Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hickman
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hickman is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Gogginsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Gogginsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gogginsville
- Ferrum
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Barfoot
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Barfoot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfoot
- Prilliman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Prilliman is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prilliman
- Rocky Mount
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Burnt Chimney
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Villa ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Henry
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Redwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Newport
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Newport is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Goodwins Ferry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
- Eggleston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Lake is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake
- Pembroke
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kire
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kire is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kire
- Poplar Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Pearisburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Thessalia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Narrows
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Shumate
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Shumate is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Patrick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Charity
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Charity is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Woolwine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Dodson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dodson is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson
- Elamsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Elamsville is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamsville
- Meadows of Dan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Cowan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Fairlawn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Snowville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Snowville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowville
- Parrott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Dublin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Newbern
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Mack Creek Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Wurno
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Draper
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hilton Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Pulaski
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Radford City
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Mill Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Radford Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Simpkins Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Radford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sunset Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- New Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Garden City
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Roanoke
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Roanoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Riverside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Riverside is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Bent Mountain
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wabun
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Wabun is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabun
- Cave Spring
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Moomaw ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Moomaw is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moomaw
- Catawba
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hanging Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hanging Rock is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Rock
- Mason Cove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mason Cove is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Cove
- Vinton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Hollins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Montgomery Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Salem City
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Salem
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Salem City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Monroe County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Assurance
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Wikel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blake Forest, see our County-by-County Page for Blake Forest.
Cemeteries Near Blake Forest ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blake Forest.
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 Blake Forest - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blake Forest covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Den Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Flag Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Shaffer Memorial Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sunset Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Cemetery
- The Sunset Cemetery has also been known as:
- Christiansburg Municipal Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #52344 <2>
- Jennelle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lester Cemetery #3
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Roselawn Memorial Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Charlton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Richardson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Westview Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Anderson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (634 more) ...
- Belmont Community Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Shelor - Booth Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Craighead Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
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 Blake Forest in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blake Forest.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blake Forest, with the one closest to Blake Forest listed first.
- Houchins
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Houchins is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
- Alleghany Springs
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Alleghany Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany Springs
- Ellett
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Fagg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fagg is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagg
- Cambria
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cambria is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambria
- Christiansburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shawsville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Yellow Sulphur Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pilot
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Huffville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huffville is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffville
- Riner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Terrys Fork
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Terrys Fork is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrys Fork
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Elliston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Blacksburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bennetts Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blake Forest. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blake Forest.
Newspapers Published in Blake Forest ...
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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blake Forest.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blake Forest, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blake Forest.
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 Blake Forest:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Botetourt County
- Carroll County
- Craig County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Giles County
- Patrick County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Salem City
- Monroe 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 Blake Forest, 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- Blake Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |