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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 Clifdale (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 Clifdale. 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 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.

Clifdale is located in Alleghany 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 Alleghany County: Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge, Greenbrier (WV) & Monroe (WV).

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

  • Alleghany County     (The home county of Clifdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Rich Patch
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
    • Moss Run
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Moss Run is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
    • Low Moor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Selma
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Selma is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
    • Clifton Forge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Iron Gate
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Griffith
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Griffith is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
  • Bath County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Carloover
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Carloover is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
    • Greenwood ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Greenwood is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Healing Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Healing Springs is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
    • Mitchelltown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mitchelltown is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
    • Cowardin ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Cowardin is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
    • Warm Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Mountain Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Mountain Grove is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
    • Bath Alum
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Bath Alum is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
    • Millboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Villamont
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Villamont is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villamont
    • Montvale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Botetourt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Oriskany
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Strom
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Strom is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strom
    • Haden
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Haden is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
    • Gala
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Gala is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
    • Glen Wilton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
    • Salisbury
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Salisbury is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Haymakertown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
    • Fincastle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Salt Petre Cave
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Salt Petre Cave is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Petre Cave
      • Salt Petre Cave has also been known as:
      • Salt Peter Cave
      • Saltpetre
    • Botetourt ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Botetourt is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botetourt
    • Springwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Springwood is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwood
    • Amsterdam
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
  • Covington City
    • Covington
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Craig County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • New Castle
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Abbott
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Abbott is located in Craig County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
    • Simmonsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Simmonsville is located in Craig County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
  • Roanoke City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Buena Vista
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Roanoke
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Roanoke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Catawba
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Mason Cove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Mason Cove is located in Roanoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Cove
    • Moomaw ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Moomaw is located in Roanoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moomaw
    • Hollins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Hanging Rock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Hanging Rock is located in Roanoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Rock
    • Vinton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Montgomery Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
    • Wabun
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Wabun is located in Roanoke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabun
  • Rockbridge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Springfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Springfield is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
    • Red Mills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Red Mills is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mills
    • Longwood ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
    • Natural Bridge
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Fancy Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
    • Greenlee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Greenlee is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
    • Zollman ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
    • Kerrs Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
  • Salem City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Salem
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Sunset Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Sunset Village is located in Salem City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
  • Greenbrier County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Tuckahoe
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Tuckahoe is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
    • White Sulphur Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Wild Meadow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wild Meadow is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Meadow
    • Neola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Neola is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neola
    • Brink ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Brink is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brink
    • Caldwell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Anthony
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Anthony is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony
    • Lewisburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Lewisburg is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,766 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lewisburg <1>
    • Clendenenville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Clendenenville is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clendenenville
    • Fairlea
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Ronceverte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Frankford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Frankford is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
  • Monroe County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clifdale, with the one closest to Clifdale listed first.
    • Hollywood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Hollywood is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
    • Hillsdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Hillsdale is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Union
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Union is located in Monroe County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people

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

Cemeteries Near Clifdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clifdale.

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

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

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

  • Simmons Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Humphries Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • King Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King Memorial Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the King Memorial Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<2> to the northeast of Oriskany.
    • The King Memorial Cemetery has also been known as:
    • King Family Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #50886 <3>
  • Anderson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Tucker Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • McKalester Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Hooks Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Crawford Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Deisher Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Mallow Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Helmintoller Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (184 more) ...
    • Rose Hill Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • McCartney Family Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Hebron UMC Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron UMC Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Hebron UMC Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<2> to the northeast of New Castle.

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.<4>

While we didn't find Clifdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Clifdale.

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

  • Strom
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Strom is located in Botetourt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strom
  • Rich Patch
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
  • Mallow
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Mallow is located in Alleghany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallow
  • Craigs Creek ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Craigs Creek is located in Craig County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Craigs Creek
  • Moss Run
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Moss Run is located in Alleghany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
  • Callaghan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Callaghan is located in Alleghany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaghan
  • Backbone
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Backbone is located in Alleghany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Backbone
  • Potts Creek
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Potts Creek is located in Alleghany County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potts Creek
  • Bessemer
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bessemer is located in Botetourt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bessemer
  • Haden
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Haden is located in Botetourt County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
  • Low Moor
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Eagle Rock
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Gala
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Gala is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
    • Glen Wilton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
    • Sweet Chalybeate
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Sweet Chalybeate is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Chalybeate

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

Newspapers Published in Clifdale ...

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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clifdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clifdale, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clifdale.

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 Clifdale:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Clifdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<4>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 Clifdale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.