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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar Forest: Cedar 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 doctors 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.
Cedar Forest is located in Pittsylvania 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 Pittsylvania County: Caswell (NC), Rockingham (NC), Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, Halifax & Henry.
Below are the counties that are near Cedar Forest. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cedar Forest:
- Pittsylvania County (The home county of Cedar Forest)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Renan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Brutus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Hurt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hurt is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hurt <1>
- Riceville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Chalk Level
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Markham
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Gretna
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Java
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Sonans
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Lucks
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Lucks is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucks
- Sheva
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Henrys Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Henrys Mill is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Mill
- Amherst County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Joshua Falls
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Joshua Falls is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joshua Falls
- Madison Heights
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Winesap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Winesap is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winesap
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Spring Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Chap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chap is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chap
- Spout Spring
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Spout Spring is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spout Spring
- Appomattox
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Pamplin City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Huddleston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Forest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bellevue
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Goode
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lowry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Davis Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Radford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Boonsboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Boonsboro is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonsboro
- Moneta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Cifax
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cifax is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cifax
- Joppa Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Melrose
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Gladys
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Brookneal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Altavista
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Zion
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Hat Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hat Creek is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hat Creek
- Lynch Station
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Rustburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Yellow Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Leesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Lawyers
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Bedford Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Abell ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Aspenwall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Phenix
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Phenix is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Rough Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rough Creek is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Creek
- Cullen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cullen is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
- Charlotte Court House
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Drakes Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Fluvanna County
- Scottsburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Penhook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- North Shore
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Cody
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Leda
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Rabat
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Nathalie
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Loftis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Rodden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Sign Rock
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Crystal Hill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Clays Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Clays Mill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Mill
- Banister Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Halifax
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jones
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Lynchburg City
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Lynchburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Woodbine Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Woodbine Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Village
- Lavino Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lavino Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavino Village
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Prince Edward County
- Darlington Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Darlington Heights is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington Heights
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cedar Forest, see our County-by-County Page for Cedar Forest.
Cemeteries Near Cedar Forest ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cedar 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 Cedar Forest - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cedar Forest covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Franklin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Clover Bottom Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mulberry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Childrey Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Wickliff - Rush Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Altavista Memorial Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Winfall Church of God of Prophecy Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Midway Baptist Church Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Henry Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (180 more) ...
- Green Hill Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burch Family Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Millstone Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Cedar Forest had a population of 11 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cedar Forest, with the one closest to Cedar Forest listed first.
- Straightstone
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Straightstone is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Straightstone
- Cody
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Stovall
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stovall is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stovall
- Marysville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Marysville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marysville
- Level Run
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Level Run is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Run
- Glenland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Glenland is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenland
- Perrows
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Perrows is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrows
- Republican Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Republican Grove is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Republican Grove
- Naruna
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Naruna is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naruna
- Mount Airy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Airy is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Airy
- Gladys
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hill Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hill Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Grove
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Brutus
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Leda
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Volens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Volens is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volens
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cedar Forest. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cedar Forest.
Newspapers Published in Cedar 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 11 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cedar Forest.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cedar Forest, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cedar Forest.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Cedar Forest:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Pittsylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amherst County
- Appomattox County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Fluvanna County
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Lynchburg City
- Madison County
- Prince Edward 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 Cedar Forest, 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 from Point A (ie- Cedar Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |