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 Brooklyn (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 Brooklyn. 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 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.
Brooklyn is located in Halifax 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 Halifax County: Caswell (NC), Granville (NC), Person (NC), Campbell, Charlotte, Mecklenburg & Pittsylvania.
Below are the counties that are near Brooklyn. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brooklyn:
- Halifax County (The home county of Brooklyn)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Elmo
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Sutherlin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherlin
- Delila
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Delila is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delila
- Jones
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Rodden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Sign Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Alton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Westside Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Westside Village is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside Village
- Cluster Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cluster Springs is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cluster Springs
- Harmony
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Harmony is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- South Boston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Banister Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Halifax
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Melrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Brookneal
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Charlotte County
- Aspenwall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Danville City
- Danville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fluvanna County
- Scottsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Henry County
- Axton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Mecklenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Nelson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Nelson is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Averett
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Averett is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averett
- Henrico
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Henrico is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrico
- Pittsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Laurel Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Laurel Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Grove
- Henrys Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Henrys Mill is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Mill
- Kentuck
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kentuck is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Lucks
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lucks is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucks
- Java
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Spring Garden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Garden is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Ridgecrest
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Ridgecrest is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
- Markham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Transco Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Transco Village is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transco Village
- Riceville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Tightsqueeze
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tightsqueeze is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightsqueeze
- Chatham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
- Sheva
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Caswell County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Milton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Estelle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Estelle is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Semora
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Blanch
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gatewood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gatewood is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
- Providence
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Providence is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Whitetown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Whitetown is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitetown
- Leasburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Pelham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Yanceyville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- West Yanceyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Yanceyville is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Yanceyville
- Ridgeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ridgeville is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeville
- Granville County (NC)
- Wilbourns
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilbourns is located in Granville County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbourns
- Orange County (NC)
- Laws
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Laws is located in Orange County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws
- Person County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Concord
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Ceffo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ceffo is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceffo
- Hicks Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hicks Village is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks Village
- Roxboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Roseville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Roseville is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Whitt Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Whitt Town is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitt Town
- Allensville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Allensville is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allensville
- Allens Level
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Allens Level is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Level
- Cates
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cates is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cates
- Hurdle Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Timberlake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Tirzah
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Tirzah is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tirzah
- Rockingham County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Ruffin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lawsonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lawsonville is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Brooklyn, see our County-by-County Page for Brooklyn.
Cemeteries Near Brooklyn ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brooklyn.
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 Brooklyn - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Brooklyn covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Arbor Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- William H. Shelton Graveyard
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Mercy Seat Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ingram Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Level Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cross Road Baptist Church Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Calvary UMC Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary UMC Cemetery
- The Calvary UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
- Calvary Cemetery
- Calvary Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #49659 <2>
- New Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Olive Branch Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Foster Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (186 more) ...
- Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- The Cedars Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Connally UMC Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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 Brooklyn had a population of 37 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Brooklyn, with the one closest to Brooklyn listed first.
- Elmo
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Sutherlin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherlin
- Barksdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Barksdale is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barksdale
- Paces
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Paces is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paces
- Laurel Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Laurel Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Grove
- Ingram
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ingram is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram
- Delila
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Delila is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delila
- Pickaway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pickaway is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickaway
- Turbeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Turbeville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turbeville
- Keeling
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Keeling is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeling
- Kentuck
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kentuck is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Ringgold
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ringgold is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ringgold
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Milton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cunningham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cunningham is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cunningham
- Peytonsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Peytonsburg is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peytonsburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Brooklyn. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brooklyn.
Newspapers Published in Brooklyn ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brooklyn.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brooklyn, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brooklyn.
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 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 Brooklyn:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Halifax County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Danville City
- Fluvanna County
- Henry County
- Madison County
- Mecklenburg County
- Pittsylvania County
- Caswell County
- Granville County
- Orange County
- Person County
- Rockingham 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 Brooklyn, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Brooklyn) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |