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 Cold Spring (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 Cold Spring. 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 Cold Spring ...
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 Cold Spring: Cold Spg. (or less commonly used: Cold Spng. or Cold Sprng.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Cold Spring. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Cold Spring.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Cold Spring 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 Cold Spring. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cold Spring:
- Augusta County (The home county of Cold Spring)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Greenville
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Middlebrook
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Spottswood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Spottswood is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
- Stuarts Draft
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Steeles Tavern
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Arbor Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Arbor Hill is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Lipscomb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lipscomb is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
- Jolivue
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jolivue is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolivue
- Sherando
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sherando is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherando
- Newport
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Newport is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Lyndhurst
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Brand
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brand is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brand
- Albemarle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Batesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Yancey Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
- Foothill Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Foothill Village is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foothill Village
- Covesville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Covesville is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covesville
- Crozet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- North Garden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- White Hall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- White Hall is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
- Mountfair
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mountfair is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountfair
- Alberene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Alberene is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberene
- Decca ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Decca is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decca
- Ivy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Esmont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Esmont is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esmont
- Amherst County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Alto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Alto is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
- Lowesville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Forks of Buffalo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Forks of Buffalo is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks of Buffalo
- Sandidges
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sandidges is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandidges
- Allwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Allwood is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allwood
- Monitor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Monitor is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monitor
- New Glasgow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- New Glasgow is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glasgow
- Pleasant View
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Pleasant View is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
- Amherst
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pedlar Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pedlar Mills is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pedlar Mills
- Sweet Briar Station
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sweet Briar Station is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Briar Station
- Bath County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Yost
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Millboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Burnsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Buena Vista City
- Buena Vista
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Highland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Clover Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clover Creek is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
- McDowell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lexington City
- Lexington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Nelson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Tyro
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Nellysford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Afton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Greenfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Greenfield is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Lodebar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lodebar is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodebar
- Onan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Onan is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
- Bryant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bryant is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
- Jonesboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jonesboro is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
- Massies Mill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Massies Mill is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massies Mill
- Durrett Town
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
- Adial
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Adial is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adial
- Old Myndus
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Old Myndus is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Myndus
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Davis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Davis is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Brownsburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- Marlbrook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
- Riverside
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Goshen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- East Lexington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
- Kerrs Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
- Buffalo Forge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo Forge is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Forge
- Zollman ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
- Fancy Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
- Glasgow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rockingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Mount Crawford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- North River
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- North River is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
- Bridgewater
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Spring Creek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Spring Creek is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Cross Keys
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Goods Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Goods Mill is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goods Mill
- Briery Branch
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Briery Branch is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briery Branch
- Dayton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ottobine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Ottobine is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ottobine
- Staunton City
- Staunton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Waynesboro City
- Waynesboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cold Spring, see our County-by-County Page for Cold Spring.
Cemeteries Near Cold Spring ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cold Spring.
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 Cold Spring - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cold Spring covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Greenville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Stony Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Haines Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- White Rock Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- New Providence Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Grant Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Glebe Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Herman Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sandy Ridge Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (206 more) ...
- Hospital Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mt. Chapel Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Cold Spring in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cold Spring.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cold Spring, with the one closest to Cold Spring listed first.
- Greenville
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Lofton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lofton is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lofton
- Avis
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Avis is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avis
- Spottswood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Spottswood is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
- Mint Spring
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Mint Spring is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mint Spring
- Middlebrook
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Raphine
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Steeles Tavern
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vesuvius
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stuarts Draft
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Barterbrook
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Barterbrook is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barterbrook
- Folly Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Folly Mills is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folly Mills
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Arbor Hill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Arbor Hill is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Davis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Davis is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Lipscomb
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lipscomb is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cold Spring. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cold Spring.
Newspapers Published in Cold Spring ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cold Spring.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cold Spring, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cold Spring.
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 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 Cold Spring:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Augusta County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Albemarle County
- Amherst County
- Bath County
- Buena Vista City
- Highland County
- Lexington City
- Nelson County
- Rockbridge County
- Rockingham County
- Staunton City
- Waynesboro City
- 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 Cold Spring, 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' (or 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- Cold Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |