Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Dan River. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Dan River to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Dan River, please Contact Us.
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 Dan River (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 Dan River. 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 Dan River ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Dan River: Dan Riv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Dan River. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Dan River.
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 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Dan River is historic, it would have been located within present day 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 Dan River. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dan River:
- Pittsylvania County (The home county of Dan River)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Mount Cross
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Cross is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Cross
- Ridgecrest
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ridgecrest is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
- Cascade
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cascade is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade
- Kentuck
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Kentuck is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Swansonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Swansonville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansonville
- Tightsqueeze
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Tightsqueeze is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightsqueeze
- Laurel Grove
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Laurel Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Grove
- Grady
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Grady is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Chatham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
- Weal
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Weal is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weal
- Spring Garden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Garden is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Transco Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Transco Village is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transco Village
- Worlds
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Worlds is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worlds
- Danville City
- Danville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Franklin County
- Laprades Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Sutherlin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherlin
- Delila
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Delila is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delila
- Elmo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Alton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Jones
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Sign Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Harmony
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Harmony is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony
- Rodden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Sandy Level
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Sandy Level is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Level
- Axton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Irisburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Irisburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irisburg
- Chatmoss
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chatmoss is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatmoss
- Laurel Park
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Laurel Park is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Park
- Leatherwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Leatherwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Ridgeway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Villa Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Villa Heights is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Heights
- Collinsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Horse Pasture
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Horse Pasture is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horse Pasture
- Fieldale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Reed Creek Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Reed Creek Village is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek Village
- Preston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Preston is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Preston
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Martinsville City
- Martinsville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Alamance County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Union Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Union Ridge is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Ridge
- Altamahaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Altamahaw is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamahaw
- Clover Garden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Clover Garden is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Garden
- Ossipee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ossipee is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossipee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 593 people
- Pleasant Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- McCray
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McCray is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCray
- Birchwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Birchwood is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchwood
- Green Acres
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Green Acres is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Acres
- Lakeview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lakeview is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Just Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Just Crossroads is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Just Crossroads
- British Acres
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- British Acres is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for British Acres
- Carolina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Carolina is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Glencoe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Glencoe is located in Alamance County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
- Caswell County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Whitetown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Whitetown is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitetown
- Pelham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pelham is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Gatewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gatewood is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
- Bethel
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bethel is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Providence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Providence is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Quick
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Quick is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quick
- Blanch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- West Yanceyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- West Yanceyville is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Yanceyville
- Locust Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Locust Hill is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Yanceyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Estelle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Estelle is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Ashland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ashland is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Milton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Guilford County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Browns Summit
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Scalesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Scalesville is located in Guilford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scalesville
- Rudd
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rudd is located in Guilford County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rudd
- Gibsonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Orange County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Carr
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Carr is located in Orange County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carr
- Laws
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Laws is located in Orange County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws
- McDade
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- McDade is located in Orange County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDade
- Person County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Concord is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Ceffo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Ceffo is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceffo
- Hicks Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hicks Village is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks Village
- Roseville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Roseville is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
- Roxboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Whitt Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whitt Town is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitt Town
- Allens Level
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Allens Level is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Level
- Hurdle Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rockingham County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Ruffin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lawsonville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lawsonville is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawsonville
- Draper ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Draper is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draper
- Meadow Summit
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Meadow Summit is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Summit
- College Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- College Village is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Village
- Eden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Eden is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,867 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eden <2>
- Spray ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Spray is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spray
- Fairview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Belmont
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
- Norwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Norwood is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Reidsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wentworth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wentworth is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wentworth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,734 people
- Providence
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Providence is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dan River, see our County-by-County Page for Dan River.
Cemeteries Near Dan River ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dan River.
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 Dan River - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dan River covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Stokesland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Moss Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hickory Grove UMC Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Schoolfield Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Danville Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mayfield MB Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Scearce Gammon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Grove Street Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain View Cemetery
- The Mountain View Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mt. View Cemetery
- Mt. View Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Soyar Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (255 more) ...
- Ruffin Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Freedmens Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Green Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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.
While we didn't find Dan River in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dan River.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dan River, with the one closest to Dan River listed first.
- Pelham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pelham is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Vandola
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Vandola is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandola
- Buford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buford is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buford
- Mayfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mayfield is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Bachelors Hall
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bachelors Hall is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bachelors Hall
- Gatewood
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Gatewood is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
- Oak Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Oak Hill is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Mount Cross
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Cross is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Cross
- Ruffin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Blackwell
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Blackwell is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackwell
- Purley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Purley is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purley
- Brosville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brosville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brosville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Allison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Allison is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison
- Vance
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Vance is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
- Cascade
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Cascade is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dan River. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dan River.
Newspapers Published in Dan River ...
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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dan River.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dan River, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dan River.
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 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 Dan River:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Pittsylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Danville City
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Henry County
- Madison County
- Martinsville City
- Alamance County
- Caswell County
- Guilford County
- Orange County
- Person County
- Rockingham County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Dan River, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Dan River) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |