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 First Ford (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 First Ford. 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 First Ford ...
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 First Ford: First Frd.
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 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.
First Ford is located in Giles 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 Giles County: Bland, Craig, Montgomery, Pulaski, Mercer (WV), Monroe (WV) & Summers (WV).
Below are the counties that are near First Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to First Ford:
- Giles County (The home county of First Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Shumate
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shumate is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Thessalia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Glen Lyn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Glen Lyn is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Narrows
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lurich
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lurich is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
- Rich Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Poplar Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Bluff City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Pearisburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Eggleston
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Pembroke
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
- Bland County
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Round Bottom
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Round Bottom is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Mechanicsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Rocky Gap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Hicksville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Bastian
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Sheep Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sheep Town is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheep Town
- Shorts Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Shorts Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorts Creek
- Sylvatus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Craig County
- Captain
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Captain is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captain
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Prices Fork
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Prices Fork is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prices Fork
- McBryde Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- McBryde Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBryde Village
- Sundance Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sundance Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sundance Village
- Childress
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Childress is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
- Blacksburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Merrimac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Merrimac is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Hilton Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Pulaski
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Parrott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Dublin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Newbern
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Draper
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cowan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Fairlawn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Mack Creek Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Snowville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Snowville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowville
- Radford City
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- New Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Radford Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Radford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Mill Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Simpkins Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Bluefield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
- Saint Clair
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Yards
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Yards is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
- Pocahontas
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
- Shawver Mill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Shawver Mill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawver Mill
- Little Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Boissevain
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Boissevain is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boissevain
- Springville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Springville is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Abbs Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Abbs Valley is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley
- Wittens Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wittens Mills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittens Mills
- Five Oaks
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Five Oaks is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Oaks
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Max Meadows
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Locust Hill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Locust Hill is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Fort Chiswell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
- Kent
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Wytheville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Siloam
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Siloam is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Austinville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ivanhoe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Crockett
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rowe Crossroads
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rowe Crossroads is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe Crossroads
- Rural Retreat
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Logan County (WV)
- Rich Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rich Creek is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Elkhorn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elkhorn is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
- Anawalt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Anawalt is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anawalt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Kyle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kyle is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyle
- Northfork
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Keystone
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Thorpe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Thorpe is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorpe
- Mercer County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Oakvale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- East River ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- East River is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- Blake ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Blake is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake
- Willowton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Willowton is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
- Elgood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Elgood is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
- Oak Grove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Princeton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Edison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Edison is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
- El Centro ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- El Centro is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Centro
- Athens
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Johnston Town
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Johnston Town is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnston Town
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Monroe County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Peterstown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
- Assurance
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Wikel
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
- Wayside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Wayside is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Creamery
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Creamery is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Raleigh County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Eastgulf
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eastgulf is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastgulf
- Princewick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Princewick is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princewick
- Rhodell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodell is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Summers County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
- Pipestem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- True
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- True is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
- Forest Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Buck
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Buck is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck
- Packs Ferry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Packs Ferry is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
- Bellepoint
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bellepoint is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellepoint
- Nimitz
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Nimitz is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimitz
- Bargers Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bargers Springs is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargers Springs
- Hilldale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hilldale is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilldale
- Jumping Branch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Jumping Branch is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumping Branch
- Brooklin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Brooklin is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklin
- Wyoming County (WV)
- Bud
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bud is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bud
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to First Ford, see our County-by-County Page for First Ford.
Cemeteries Near First Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of First Ford.
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 First Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for First Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Hales Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Beamer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Clark Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bivins Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Shrader Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Wagner Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Reed Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Oakvale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Tiller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bray Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (391 more) ...
- White Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hogan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shields Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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 First Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of First Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from First Ford, with the one closest to First Ford listed first.
- Oakvale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- East River ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- East River is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- Holly Brook
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Holly Brook is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Brook
- Ingleside
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ingleside is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- Shumate
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shumate is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Willowton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Willowton is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
- Rocky Gap
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Kimberling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kimberling is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberling
- Mechanicsburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Byron
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Byron is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
- Thessalia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Narrows
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Glen Lyn
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Glen Lyn is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Elgood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Elgood is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
- Hicksville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around First Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around First Ford.
Newspapers Published in First Ford ...
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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around First Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of First Ford, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for First Ford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 First Ford:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Giles County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bland County
- Carroll County
- Craig County
- Montgomery County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Tazewell County
- Wythe County
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Raleigh County
- Summers County
- Wyoming 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 First Ford, 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- First Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |