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 Elam (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 Elam. 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 and doctors 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.
Elam is located in Prince Edward 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 Prince Edward County: Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg & Nottoway.
Below are the counties that are near Elam. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elam:
- Prince Edward County (The home county of Elam)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Five Forks
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Five Forks is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Darlington Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Darlington Heights is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington Heights
- Tuggle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Tuggle is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuggle
- Blake Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Blake Village is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake Village
- Hampden - Sydney
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hampden - Sydney is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden - Sydney
- Farmville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Green Bay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Amelia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Rodophil
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Rodophil is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodophil
- Paineville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Paineville is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paineville
- Amherst County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Walkers Ford
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Walkers Ford is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkers Ford
- Joshua Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Joshua Falls is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joshua Falls
- Madison Heights
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- New Glasgow
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- New Glasgow is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glasgow
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Pamplin City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hurtsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hurtsville is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsville
- Evergreen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Evergreen is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Appomattox
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Chap
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Chap is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chap
- Spout Spring
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Spout Spring is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spout Spring
- Spring Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Bent Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bent Creek is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Creek
- Beckham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Beckham is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beckham
- Mineral ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral
- Buckingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Forbes ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Forbes is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forbes
- Sheppards
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sheppards is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheppards
- Andersonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Curdsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Curdsville is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curdsville
- Toga
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Toga is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toga
- Enonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Enonville is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enonville
- Alcoma
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Alcoma is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcoma
- Buckingham
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Dillwyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vinco
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mount Vinco is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vinco
- Gravel Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gravel Hill is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Glenmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Glenmore is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenmore
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Hat Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hat Creek is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hat Creek
- Concord
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Zion
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Brookneal
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Athos ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mount Athos is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Athos
- Gladys
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rustburg
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Melrose
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Abilene
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Abilene is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abilene
- Cullen
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cullen is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
- Rough Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rough Creek is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Creek
- Charlotte Court House
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Phenix
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Phenix is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Keysville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Abell ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Drakes Branch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Aspenwall
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Wylliesburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Cotton Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Cotton Town is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
- Guinea Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Guinea Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guinea Mills
- Cumberland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Trents Mill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Trents Mill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trents Mill
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Rabat
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Nathalie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lunenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Meherrin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Meherrin is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meherrin
- Pleasant Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Nutbush
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nutbush is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutbush
- Lunenburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lunenburg is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lunenburg
- Victoria
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lynchburg City
- Lynchburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mecklenburg County
- Finneywood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Finneywood is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finneywood
- Nelson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Gladstone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo Springs is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Springs
- Norwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Norwood is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Warminster
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Warminster is located in Nelson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warminster
- Nottoway County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Burkeville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Crewe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Winnie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Winnie is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnie
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elam, see our County-by-County Page for Elam.
Cemeteries Near Elam ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elam.
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 Elam - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elam covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Old Olive Branch UMC Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Olive Branch UMC Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sulphur Spring Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Oaks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Buffalo Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bethpeor Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bethpeor Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Baldwin Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- St. Ann Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Little Rock Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (159 more) ...
- Mt. Lyle Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Moriah Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
While we didn't find Elam in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Elam.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elam, with the one closest to Elam listed first.
- Five Forks
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Five Forks is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Prospect
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hixburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hixburg is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hixburg
- Pamplin City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Darlington Heights
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Darlington Heights is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington Heights
- Hurtsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hurtsville is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsville
- Tredway ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tredway is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tredway
- Madisonville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Madisonville is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Tuggle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Tuggle is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuggle
- Hampden - Sydney
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hampden - Sydney is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden - Sydney
- Evergreen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Evergreen is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Hollywood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hollywood is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Worsham
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Worsham is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worsham
- Sheppards
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sheppards is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheppards
- Forbes ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Forbes is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forbes
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elam. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elam.
Newspapers Published in Elam ...
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 Elam.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elam, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elam.
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 websites either 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 Elam:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Prince Edward County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amelia County
- Amherst County
- Appomattox County
- Buckingham County
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Cumberland County
- Halifax County
- Lunenburg County
- Lynchburg City
- Mecklenburg County
- Nelson County
- Nottoway 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> | 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Elam) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Elam, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |