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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 Centerville (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 Centerville. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

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 south 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.

Centerville is located in Augusta 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 Augusta County: Albemarle, Bath, Highland, Nelson, Rockbridge, Rockingham & Pendleton (WV).

Below are the counties that are near Centerville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Centerville:

  • Augusta County     (The home county of Centerville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Mount Solon
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Weyers Cave
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Parnassus
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Parnassus is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
    • Stokesville ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Stokesville is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokesville
    • Verona
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Grottoes
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Churchville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sampson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sampson is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sampson
    • Brand
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Brand is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brand
    • Crimora
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Fishersville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Jolivue
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Jolivue is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolivue
    • Dooms
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Dooms is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
  • Albemarle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Mountfair
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Mountfair is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountfair
    • Boonesville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Boonesville is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonesville
    • Cedarmere
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cedarmere is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Crozet
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Foothill Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Foothill Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foothill Village
    • White Hall
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • White Hall is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Yancey Mills
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
    • Decca ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Decca is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decca
    • Free Union
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Batesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Ivy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Earlysville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Cedarmere ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cedarmere is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Amicus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Amicus is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amicus
    • Stanardsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Harrisonburg City
    • Harrisonburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Highland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Palo Alto
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Palo Alto is located in Highland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto
    • McDowell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Clover Creek
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Clover Creek is located in Highland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
    • Possum Trot
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Possum Trot is located in Highland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
  • Nelson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Afton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Durrett Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
    • Onan
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Onan is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
    • Greenfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Lodebar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lodebar is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodebar
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Shenandoah
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Verbena
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Verbena is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
  • Rockingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Mount Crawford
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Bridgewater
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • North River
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • North River is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
    • Spring Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Spring Creek is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
    • Ottobine
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Ottobine is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottobine
    • Rushville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Rushville is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushville
    • Dayton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dayton is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,642 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dayton <1>
    • Clover Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Clover Hill is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Hill
    • Briery Branch
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Briery Branch is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briery Branch
    • Cross Keys
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Coakley Town
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Coakley Town is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coakley Town
    • Hinton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Hinton is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinton
    • Lilly
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Lilly is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lilly
  • Shenandoah County
    • New Market
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Staunton City
    • Staunton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Waynesboro City
    • Waynesboro
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Pendleton County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Sugar Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Sugar Grove is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
    • Moyers
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Moyers is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyers
    • Propstburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Propstburg is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Propstburg
    • Brandywine
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Fort Seybert
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Seybert is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Seybert
    • Franklin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Franklin is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Franklin <1>
    • Harper
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Harper is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
    • Zigler
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Zigler is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zigler
    • Ruddle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ruddle is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruddle

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Centerville, see our County-by-County Page for Centerville.

Cemeteries Near Centerville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Centerville.

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 Centerville - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Centerville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.

  • St. Michael's Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Michael's Church Cemetery
    • The St. Michael's Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Michael's Reformed Church Cemetery
    • St. Michael's United Church Cemetery
  • Click Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hernsberger / Wynant Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Landes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Crawford Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Crawford Cemetery
    • The Mt. Crawford Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mt. Crawford Methodist Church Cemetery
    • Mt. Crawford Reformed Church Cemetery
  • Northern Methodist Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Ames Methodist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Cemetery
    • The Greenwood Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bridgewater Cemetery
    • Greenwood Ames Cemetery
  • Old Salem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • DeVier Family Cemetery #1
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • DeVier Family Cemetery #2
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Spring Creek Community Christian Fellowship Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (318 more) ...

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 Centerville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Centerville.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.

  • Roman
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Roman is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roman
  • Stonewall
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Stonewall is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonewall
  • Mount Crawford
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Bridgewater
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Moscow
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Moscow is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
  • Spring Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Spring Creek is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
  • North River
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • North River is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
  • Mount Solon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Sangerville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sangerville is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sangerville
  • Parnassus
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Parnassus is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
  • Ottobine
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Ottobine is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottobine
  • Mount Sidney
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Weyers Cave
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Valley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Pleasant Valley is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
    • Dayton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dayton is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,642 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dayton <1>

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Centerville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Centerville.

Newspapers Published in Centerville ...

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 84 newspapers that have been published in the area around Centerville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Centerville, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Centerville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Centerville:

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 Centerville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Centerville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.