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 Dickinson (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 Dickinson. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Dickinson is located in Franklin 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 Franklin County: Bedford, Floyd, Henry, Patrick, Pittsylvania & Roanoke.
Below are the counties that are near Dickinson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dickinson:
- Franklin County (The home county of Dickinson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Laprades Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- Union Hall
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Penhook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sydnorsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sydnorsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydnorsville
- Redwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- North Shore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Rocky Mount
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Villa ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Barfoot
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Barfoot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfoot
- Burnt Chimney
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Gogginsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gogginsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gogginsville
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Radford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Moneta
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Davis Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Goodview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Huddleston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chamblissburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Joppa Mill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Coonsville ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Coonsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coonsville
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Leesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Altavista
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lynch Station
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Danville City
- Danville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Pizarro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pizarro is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pizarro
- Simpsons
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Simpsons is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsons
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Leatherwood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Leatherwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Oak Level
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Level is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Level
- Reed Creek Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Reed Creek Village is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek Village
- Laurel Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Laurel Park is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Park
- Axton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Collinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Stanleytown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Villa Heights is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Heights
- Chatmoss
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Chatmoss is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatmoss
- Bassett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fieldale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Irisburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Irisburg is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irisburg
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Martinsville City
- Martinsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Patrick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Dodson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Dodson is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson
- Stella
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Stella is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Charity
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Charity is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Elamsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Elamsville is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamsville
- Pittsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Museville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Museville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Museville
- Worlds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Worlds is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worlds
- Grady
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Grady is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Swansonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Swansonville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansonville
- Pittsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Weal
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Weal is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weal
- Whittles
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Whittles is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittles
- Whittles has also been known as:
- Whittle's Depot
- Whittle's Station
- Chatham
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
- Gretna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Tightsqueeze
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tightsqueeze is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tightsqueeze
- Sheva
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Sonans
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Garden City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Buena Vista
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Roanoke
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Roanoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Montgomery Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Bent Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cave Spring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Vinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Caswell County (NC)
- Whitetown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Whitetown is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitetown
- Rockingham County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Draper ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Draper is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draper
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Eden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- 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 <1>
- Meadow Summit
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Meadow Summit is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Summit
- Spray ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Spray is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spray
- Matrimony
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Matrimony is located in Rockingham County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matrimony
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Dickinson, see our County-by-County Page for Dickinson.
Cemeteries Near Dickinson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dickinson.
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 Dickinson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Dickinson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Truevine Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Law Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hundley - Beckner Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Matley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Gregory Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jefferson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Zeigler Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Forest Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Potter Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Fralin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Law Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (726 more) ...
- Adams Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Belcher Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
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 Dickinson in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dickinson.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Dickinson, with the one closest to Dickinson listed first.
- Gladehill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Gladehill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladehill
- Museville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Museville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Museville
- Penhook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Union Hall
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Worlds
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Worlds is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worlds
- Sydnorsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sydnorsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydnorsville
- Grady
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Grady is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Callands
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Callands is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callands
- Redwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Dillons Mill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Dillons Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillons Mill
- Pullens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Pullens is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullens
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Scruggs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Scruggs is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scruggs
- Villa ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Rocky Mount
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Dickinson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Dickinson.
Newspapers Published in Dickinson ...
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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dickinson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dickinson, 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 Dickinson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Dickinson:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Franklin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Campbell County
- Danville City
- Floyd County
- Henry County
- Madison County
- Martinsville City
- Patrick County
- Pittsylvania County
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Caswell County
- Rockingham County
- 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 Dickinson, 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' (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- Dickinson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |