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 Falling Spring (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 Falling Spring. 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 Falling Spring ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Falling Spring: Falling Spg. (or less commonly used: Falling Spng. or Falling Sprng.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Falling Spring. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Falling Spring.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Falling Spring is located in Alleghany 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 Alleghany County: Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge, Greenbrier (WV) & Monroe (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Falling Spring. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Falling Spring:
- Alleghany County (The home county of Falling Spring)
- The following are listed by their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Low Moor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Clifton Forge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Selma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Selma is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Moss Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Moss Run is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Rich Patch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Iron Gate
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Griffith
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Griffith is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Bath County
- The following are listed by their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Greenwood ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Greenwood is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Carloover
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Carloover is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
- Healing Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Cowardin ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cowardin is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
- Mitchelltown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mitchelltown is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
- Mountain Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mountain Grove is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Warm Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bath Alum
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Millboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Burnsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Yost
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Glen Wilton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
- Haden
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Haden is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
- Strom
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Strom is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strom
- Gala
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gala is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
- Oriskany
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Salisbury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Salisbury is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Salt Petre Cave
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Salt Petre Cave is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Petre Cave
- Salt Petre Cave has also been known as:
- Salt Peter Cave
- Saltpetre
- Springwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Springwood is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwood
- Fincastle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Botetourt ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Botetourt is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botetourt
- Haymakertown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
- Buchanan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Covington City
- Covington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Craig County
- New Castle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Highland County
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buckeye is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- Lexington City
- Lexington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Kerrs Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
- Goshen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Longwood ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Springfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Springfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Red Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Red Mills is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mills
- Zollman ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
- Fancy Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
- Natural Bridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- East Lexington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
- Greenbrier County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Neola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Neola is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neola
- Wild Meadow
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wild Meadow is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Meadow
- Tuckahoe
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Tuckahoe is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
- White Sulphur Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Anthony
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Anthony is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony
- Brink ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Brink is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brink
- Spring Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Spring Creek is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Falling Spring
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Frankford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Oscar
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Oscar is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oscar
- Caldwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clendenenville
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Clendenenville is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clendenenville
- Pocahontas County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Huntersville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Watoga ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Watoga is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
- Hillsboro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Buckeye
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Marlinton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Thorny Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Edray
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Frost
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Frost is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Onoto
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Onoto is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onoto
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Falling Spring, see our County-by-County Page for Falling Spring.
Cemeteries Near Falling Spring ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Falling Spring.
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 Falling Spring - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Falling Spring covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Alleghany Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hoke Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Helmintoller Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mallow Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sunrise Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Watts Chapel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Crown Hill Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (115 more) ...
- Mountain View Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Walton Memorial Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Hooks Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Falling Spring in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Falling Spring.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Falling Spring, with the one closest to Falling Spring listed first.
- Callaghan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Callaghan is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callaghan
- Mallow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mallow is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallow
- Callison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Callison is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Callison
- Low Moor
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Healing Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Moss Run
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Moss Run is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Selma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Selma is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Clifton Forge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shanklin ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Shanklin is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanklin
- Rich Patch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Iron Gate
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Longdale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Longdale is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdale
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Hot Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Backbone
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Backbone is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Backbone
- Glen Wilton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Falling Spring. See our List of 1890's Communities around Falling Spring.
Newspapers Published in Falling Spring ...
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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Falling Spring.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Falling Spring, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Falling Spring.
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 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 Falling Spring:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Alleghany County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bath County
- Botetourt County
- Covington City
- Craig County
- Highland County
- Lexington City
- Rockbridge County
- Greenbrier County
- Pocahontas 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> | 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 Falling Spring, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Falling Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |