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 Colonial Trail (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 Colonial Trail. 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.
Colonial Trail is located in Roanoke 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 Roanoke County: Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin & Montgomery.
Below are the counties that are near Colonial Trail. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colonial Trail:
- Roanoke County (The home county of Colonial Trail)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Vinton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hollins
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Hanging Rock
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hanging Rock is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Rock
- Cave Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Mason Cove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mason Cove is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Cove
- Catawba
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Moomaw ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Moomaw is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moomaw
- Wabun
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wabun is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabun
- Riverside
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Riverside is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Bent Mountain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Alleghany County
- Rich Patch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Villamont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Villamont is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villamont
- Montvale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Chamblissburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Coonsville ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Coonsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coonsville
- Goodview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Joppa Mill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Moneta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Davis Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Peaksville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Peaksville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Radford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Lowry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Huddleston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Apple Tree Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Apple Tree Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Tree Village
- Cloverdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Runaway Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Runaway Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Village
- Laymantown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Laymantown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laymantown
- Daleville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Blue Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Troutville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Amsterdam
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Haymakertown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
- Fincastle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Botetourt ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Botetourt is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botetourt
- Lithia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lithia is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithia
- Buchanan
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell County
- Leesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Abbott
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Abbott is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- New Castle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Simmonsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Simmonsville is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
- Huffman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Huffman is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Simpsons
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Simpsons is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsons
- Terrys Fork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Terrys Fork is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrys Fork
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Boones Mill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Burnt Chimney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Westlake Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Gogginsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Gogginsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gogginsville
- Villa ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Hickman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hickman is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Redwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- North Shore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Algoma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Algoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoma
- Rocky Mount
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Barfoot
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Barfoot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfoot
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Elliston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Shawsville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Alleghany Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Alleghany Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany Springs
- Bennetts Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
- Montgomery
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Montgomery is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Ellett
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Houchins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Houchins is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
- Mount Tabor Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Tabor Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor Village
- Old Farm Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Old Farm Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Farm Village
- Raintree Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Raintree Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raintree Village
- Blacksburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- McBryde Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- McBryde Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBryde Village
- Merrimac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Merrimac is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Buena Vista
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Roanoke
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Springfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Springfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Natural Bridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Red Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Red Mills is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mills
- Greenlee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenlee is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Salem City
- The following are listed by their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Sunset Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Sunset Village is located in Salem City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Salem
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Colonial Trail, see our County-by-County Page for Colonial Trail.
Cemeteries Near Colonial Trail ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colonial Trail.
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 Colonial Trail - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Colonial Trail covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Beth Israel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Emanuel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Ruddell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mt. View Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Smith Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Roanoke Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Springwood Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Old Lick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- City Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Blue Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Waldron Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Old Dominion Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (699 more) ...
- Cocke Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Tombstone Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Richard Carver Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
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 Colonial Trail in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Colonial Trail.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Colonial Trail, with the one closest to Colonial Trail listed first.
- Bonsack
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bonsack is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonsack
- Vinton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Coyner Springs
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Coyner Springs is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyner Springs
- Cloverdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hollins
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Roanoke
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stewartsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Stewartsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville
- Daleville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Leslie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Leslie is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
- Blue Ridge
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Troutville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hardy Ford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hardy Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy Ford
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Amsterdam
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Cave Spring
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Montvale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Colonial Trail. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colonial Trail.
Newspapers Published in Colonial Trail ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colonial Trail.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Colonial Trail, there are papers which were published within 4 miles [6.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Colonial Trail.
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 Colonial Trail:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Roanoke County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alleghany County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Botetourt County
- Campbell County
- Craig County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Montgomery County
- Roanoke City
- Rockbridge County
- Salem 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> | 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 Colonial Trail, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Colonial Trail) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |