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 Fairwood (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 Fairwood. 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 doctors and 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.
Fairwood is located in Grayson 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 Grayson County: Alleghany (NC), Ashe (NC), Surry (NC), Johnson (TN), Carroll, Smyth, Washington & Wythe.
Below are the counties that are near Fairwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Fairwood:
- Grayson County (The home county of Fairwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Trout Dale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Rugby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Flat Ridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Whitetop
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bridle Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
- Elk Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Independence
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Baywood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Baywood is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
- Fries
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Russell County
- Elk Garden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Sugar Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Adwolf
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Adwolf is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adwolf
- Marion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mount Carmel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mount Carmel is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Seven Mile Ford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
- Atkins
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Chilhowie
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ellendale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ellendale is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Broadford
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Saltville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Allison Gap
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Allison Gap is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
- Cardwell Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Asberrys
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Asberrys is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asberrys
- Thompson Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Thompson Valley is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson Valley
- Paintlick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Tazewell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Pounding Mill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Little Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Maxwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Maxwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Pisgah
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Pisgah is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Claypool Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Steeleburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Cedar Bluff
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Green Cove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Green Cove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
- Loves Mill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Loves Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Mill
- Masada
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Masada is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masada
- Friendship
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Friendship is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Fleet
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lodi
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Lodi is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Damascus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Glade Spring
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Clinchburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clinchburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinchburg
- Drowning Ford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Drowning Ford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drowning Ford
- Alvarado
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Alvarado is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Lindell
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Rural Retreat
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Speedwell
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Speedwell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedwell
- Crockett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rowe Crossroads
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Rowe Crossroads is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe Crossroads
- Wytheville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ivanhoe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Kent
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Alleghany County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Piney Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Topia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Scottville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Amelia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Laurel Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Sparta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sparta is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,723 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
- Ennice
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Glade Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hooker
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hooker is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Ashe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Helton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Helton is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Sturgills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sturgills is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
- Grassy Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Brandon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Brandon is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Weavers Ford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Weavers Ford is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weavers Ford
- Lansing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Apple Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Apple Grove is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Crumpler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Comet
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Comet is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Grayson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grayson is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Warrensville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Roten
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Roten is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Watauga County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Zionville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Moretz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Moretz is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moretz
- Mabel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mabel is located in Watauga County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Wilkes County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Springfield ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Springfield is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- McGrady
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- McGrady is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGrady
- Abshers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Abshers is located in Wilkes County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abshers
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Shingletown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Shingletown is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shingletown
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Fuller
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Mountain City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- Trade
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Winchester
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Winchester is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Estimated population in 2014: 8,547 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Fairwood, see our County-by-County Page for Fairwood.
Cemeteries Near Fairwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fairwood.
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 Fairwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Fairwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Fairwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Brooks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Watson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Campbell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Trout Dale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bolt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McCarter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Blevins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Comer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kirk Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Liberty Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (603 more) ...
- Grubb Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Woods Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Young Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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 Fairwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fairwood.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Fairwood, with the one closest to Fairwood listed first.
- Trout Dale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Grant
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Grant is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grant
- Rugby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Sugar Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Flat Ridge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Adwolf
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Adwolf is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adwolf
- Marion
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Green Cove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Green Cove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
- Whitetop
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sturgills
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sturgills is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
- Helton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Helton is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Grassy Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Seven Mile Ford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Loves Mill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Loves Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Mill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Fairwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fairwood.
Newspapers Published in Fairwood ...
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 Fairwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fairwood, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fairwood.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Fairwood:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Grayson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Russell County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wythe County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Watauga County
- Wilkes County
- Johnson 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 Fairwood, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Fairwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |