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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 Hightown (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 Hightown. 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 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.

Hightown is located in Rockingham 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 Rockingham County: Albemarle, Augusta, Greene, Page, Shenandoah, Hardy (WV) & Pendleton (WV).

Below are the counties that are near Hightown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Hightown:

  • Rockingham County     (The home county of Hightown)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Linville
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Linville is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
    • Lacey Spring
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lacey Spring is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey Spring
    • Melrose
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Melrose is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
    • Daphna
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Daphna is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daphna
    • Edom
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Edom is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edom
    • Mayland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Mayland is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayland
    • Green Mount
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Green Mount is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mount
    • Broadway
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Cherry Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherry Grove is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
    • Singers Glen
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Singers Glen is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Singers Glen
    • Cootes Store
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Cootes Store is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cootes Store
    • Keezletown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • New Erection
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • New Erection is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Erection
  • Albemarle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Boonesville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Boonesville is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonesville
    • Cedarmere
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedarmere is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Mountfair
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Mountfair is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountfair
    • Free Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • White Hall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • White Hall is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Advance Mills Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Advance Mills Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance Mills Village
    • Advance Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Advance Mills is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance Mills
      • Advance Mills has also been known as:
      • Fray's Mills
    • Earlysville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Augusta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Grottoes
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Weyers Cave
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Mount Solon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Stokesville ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Stokesville is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokesville
    • Parnassus
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Parnassus is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnassus
    • Sampson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Sampson is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sampson
    • Verona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Crimora
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Dooms
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Dooms is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
    • Churchville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Brand
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Brand is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brand
    • Fishersville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Cedarmere ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedarmere is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Kinderhook
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Kinderhook is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
    • Amicus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Amicus is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amicus
    • Stanardsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Quinque
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Quinque is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinque
  • Harrisonburg City
    • Harrisonburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Syria
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Hood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Wolftown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ruth
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Ruth is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
    • Peola Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Peola Mills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peola Mills
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Shenandoah
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Verbena
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Verbena is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
    • Stanley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Leaksville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Leaksville is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaksville
    • Marksville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Marksville is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marksville
    • Luray
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kimball
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Kimball is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
    • Rileyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Shenandoah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • New Market
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Clifton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
    • Mount Jackson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Rinkerton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Rinkerton is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinkerton
    • Orkney Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Basye - Bryce Mountain
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Jerome
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jerome is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
    • Edinburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Columbia Furnace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Columbia Furnace is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Furnace
    • Willow Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Willow Grove is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
    • Calvary
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Calvary is located in Shenandoah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary
    • Woodstock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Staunton City
    • Staunton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Grant County (WV)
    • Seemly ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Seemly is located in Grant County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seemly
  • Hardy County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Mathias
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Peru
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Peru is located in Hardy County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
    • Lost City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Pendleton County (WV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.
    • Fort Seybert
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Seybert is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Seybert
    • Brandywine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Propstburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Propstburg is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Propstburg
    • Sugar Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Sugar Grove is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
    • Kline
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Kline is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kline
    • Franklin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Franklin is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Franklin <1>
    • Ruddle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ruddle is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruddle
    • Moyers
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Moyers is located in Pendleton County (WV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyers

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Hightown, see our County-by-County Page for Hightown.

Cemeteries Near Hightown ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hightown.

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 Hightown - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Hightown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.

  • Herwin Chapel EUB Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Linville Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville Cemetery
    • Former name for Linville Cemetery:
    • Linville Congregational Christian Church Cemetery
  • Moore Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Fellowship UMC Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fellowship UMC Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Fellowship UMC Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<2> to the northeast of Harrisonburg.
    • The Fellowship UMC Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Fellowship Community Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2340230 <3>
  • Adam M. Long Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Harrison Family Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Pine Grove Church of the Brethren Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Huffman / Flick Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman / Flick Cemetery
    • The Huffman / Flick Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Flick / Huffman Cemetery
  • Athens Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Old Athens Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Athens Church Cemetery
    • The Old Athens Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Longs Chapel Cemetery
  • Flook Armentrout Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Barley Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (356 more) ...

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 Hightown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Hightown.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Hightown, with the one closest to Hightown listed first.

  • Linville
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Linville is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
  • Melrose
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Melrose is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
  • Lacey Spring
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lacey Spring is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey Spring
  • Edom
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Edom is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edom
  • Paulington ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Paulington is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulington
  • Oakwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Oakwood is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood
  • Mauzy
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Mauzy is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mauzy
  • Mayland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Mayland is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayland
  • Green Mount
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Green Mount is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Mount
  • Tenth Legion
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Tenth Legion is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenth Legion
  • Broadway
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Cherry Grove
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cherry Grove is located in Rockingham County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Singers Glen
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Singers Glen is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Singers Glen
    • Keezletown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Cootes Store
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Cootes Store is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cootes Store

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Hightown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Hightown.

Newspapers Published in Hightown ...

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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hightown.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hightown, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hightown.

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 helpful 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 Hightown:

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>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- Hightown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Hightown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.