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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 Jonestown (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 Jonestown. 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 hospitals and 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.

Jonestown is located in Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County: Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt & Nelson.

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

  • Rockbridge County     (The home county of Jonestown)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Fairfield
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
    • Davis
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Davis is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Marlbrook
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
    • Brownsburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Riverside
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • East Lexington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
    • Kerrs Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
    • Goshen
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Buffalo Forge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Buffalo Forge is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Forge
    • Zollman ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
    • Fancy Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
    • Glasgow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Longwood ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
  • Albemarle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Batesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Covesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Covesville is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covesville
  • Alleghany County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Griffith
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Griffith is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
    • Iron Gate
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Clifton Forge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Amherst County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Alto
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Alto is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
    • Forks of Buffalo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Forks of Buffalo is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks of Buffalo
    • Allwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Allwood is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allwood
    • Lowesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sandidges
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandidges is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandidges
    • Pleasant View
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Pleasant View is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
    • Monitor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Monitor is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monitor
    • Pedlar Mills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Pedlar Mills is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pedlar Mills
    • New Glasgow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • New Glasgow is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glasgow
    • Amherst
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sweet Briar Station
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Sweet Briar Station is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Briar Station
    • Coolwell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Coolwell is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolwell
    • Winesap
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Winesap is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winesap
  • Augusta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Steeles Tavern
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Spottswood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Spottswood is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
    • Newport
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Newport is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Greenville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Middlebrook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Pond Gap ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Pond Gap is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Gap
    • Craigsville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Arbor Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Stuarts Draft
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Chapin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Chapin is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Sherando
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Sherando is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherando
    • Jolivue
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Jolivue is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolivue
    • Lipscomb
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Lipscomb is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
  • Bath County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Yost
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Yost is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
    • Millboro
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
    • Bath Alum
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bath Alum is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
    • Burnsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnsville is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
    • Mitchelltown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Mitchelltown is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
    • Warm Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Bedford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Waugh
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Waugh is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waugh
    • Coleman Falls
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Coleman Falls is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman Falls
    • Abert
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Abert is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abert
    • Boonsboro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Boonsboro is located in Bedford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonsboro
  • Botetourt County
    • Rocky Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Rocky Point is located in Botetourt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Point
  • Buena Vista City
    • Buena Vista
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Highland County
    • Clover Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Clover Creek is located in Highland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
  • Lexington City
    • Lexington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lynchburg City
    • Lavino Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lavino Village is located in Lynchburg City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavino Village
  • Nelson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Jonestown, with the one closest to Jonestown listed first.
    • Tyro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Massies Mill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Massies Mill is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massies Mill
    • Jonesboro
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jonesboro is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
    • Bryant
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Bryant is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
    • Nellysford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Lodebar
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Lodebar is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodebar
    • Old Myndus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Old Myndus is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Myndus
    • Colleen
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Colleen is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colleen
    • Adial
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Adial is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adial
    • Greenfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Arrington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Durrett Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
    • Afton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Staunton City
    • Staunton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Waynesboro City
    • Waynesboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Jonestown ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Jonestown.

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

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

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

  • Fairfield Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • McDowell Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Spring Valley Baptist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Irish Creek Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • New Providence Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Stony Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Timber Ridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Clarks Mtn. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Grant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Haines Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Herman Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (155 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 Jonestown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Jonestown.

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

  • Fairfield
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
  • Marlbrook
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
  • Davis
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Davis is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
  • Decatur
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Decatur is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur
  • Midvale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Midvale is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midvale
  • Vesuvius
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Raphine
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Brownsburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Steeles Tavern
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Timber Ridge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Timber Ridge is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Ridge
  • Irish Creek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Irish Creek is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irish Creek
  • Spottswood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Spottswood is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Cornwall
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cornwall is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwall
    • Riverside
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • Montebello
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Jonestown ...

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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Jonestown.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Jonestown, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Jonestown.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Jonestown:

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- Jonestown) 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 Jonestown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.