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 Horseshoe Bend (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 Horseshoe Bend. 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 Horseshoe Bend ...
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 Horseshoe Bend: Horseshoe Bnd.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Horseshoe Bend. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Horseshoe Bend.
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 hospitals 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.
Horseshoe Bend is located in Smyth 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 Smyth County: Bland, Grayson, Russell, Tazewell, Washington & Wythe.
Below are the counties that are near Horseshoe Bend. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Horseshoe Bend:
- Smyth County (The home county of Horseshoe Bend)
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Adwolf
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Adwolf is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adwolf
- Seven Mile Ford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
- Marion
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Chilhowie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Carmel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Carmel is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Sugar Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Ellendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ellendale is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Atkins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Broadford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Saltville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Allison Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Allison Gap is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison Gap
- Cardwell Town
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cardwell Town is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardwell Town
- Grayson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Trout Dale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Whitetop
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Flat Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Rugby
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bridle Creek
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
- Elk Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Independence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Russell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Elk Garden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Elk Garden is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Garden
- Barnett
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Barnett is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
- Honaker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dye
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dye is located in Russell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Lebanon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Asberrys
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Asberrys is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asberrys
- Paintlick
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Paintlick is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paintlick
- Thompson Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Thompson Valley is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson Valley
- Pounding Mill
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Maxwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Maxwell is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxwell
- Claypool Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Claypool Hill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claypool Hill
- Steeleburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Steeleburg is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steeleburg
- Pisgah
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pisgah is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Tazewell
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Richlands
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Five Oaks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Five Oaks is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Oaks
- Little Town
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Loves Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Loves Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Mill
- Masada
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Masada is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masada
- Fleet
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Friendship
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Friendship is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Green Cove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Green Cove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
- Glade Spring
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lodi
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lodi is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Clinchburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Clinchburg is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinchburg
- Damascus
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Drowning Ford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Drowning Ford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drowning Ford
- Lindell
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lindell is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindell
- Alvarado
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Alvarado is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Glenford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Glenford is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenford
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Rural Retreat
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Crockett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Speedwell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Speedwell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedwell
- Rowe Crossroads
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rowe Crossroads is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe Crossroads
- Wytheville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Alleghany County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Piney Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Topia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Scottville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Amelia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Laurel Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ashe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Sturgills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Sturgills is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgills
- Helton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Helton is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helton
- Apple Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Apple Grove is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Grove
- Brandon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Brandon is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon
- Grayson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Grayson is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Grassy Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lansing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Weavers Ford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Weavers Ford is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weavers Ford
- Comet
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Comet is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Roten
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Roten is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roten
- Crumpler
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Warrensville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ashland
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ashland is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Johnson County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend 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
- Fuller
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fuller is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fuller
- Dowell ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Dowell is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowell
- Estimated population in 2014: 364 people
- Mountain City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Winchester
(26 miles [41.8 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
- Vaughtsville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vaughtsville is located in Johnson County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughtsville
- McDowell County (WV)
- Bishop
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bishop is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Horseshoe Bend, see our County-by-County Page for Horseshoe Bend.
Cemeteries Near Horseshoe Bend ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bend.
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 Horseshoe Bend - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Horseshoe Bend covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- South Fork Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Thomas Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Shannon Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Laurel Spring Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- River Bend Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Rowland Creek Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Riverside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ebenezer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Phipps Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Gollehon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Copenhaver Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (695 more) ...
- St. James Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- McClure Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hash Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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 Horseshoe Bend in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Horseshoe Bend.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Horseshoe Bend, with the one closest to Horseshoe Bend listed first.
- Adwolf
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Adwolf is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adwolf
- Seven Mile Ford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Seven Mile Ford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Mile Ford
- Marion
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Loves Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Loves Mill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loves Mill
- Chilhowie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Friendship
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Friendship is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Longhollow ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Longhollow is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longhollow
- Trout Dale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ellendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Ellendale is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Atkins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Green Cove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Green Cove is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Cove
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Broadford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Broadford is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadford
- Glade Spring
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lodi
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lodi is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Horseshoe Bend. See our List of 1890's Communities around Horseshoe Bend.
Newspapers Published in Horseshoe Bend ...
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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Horseshoe Bend.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Horseshoe Bend, 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 Horseshoe Bend.
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 Horseshoe Bend:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Smyth County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Grayson County
- Russell County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wythe County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Johnson County
- McDowell 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 Horseshoe Bend, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Horseshoe Bend) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |