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 Lafayette (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 Lafayette. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Lafayette is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Craig, Floyd, Giles, Pulaski & Roanoke.
Below are the counties that are near Lafayette. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Lafayette:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Lafayette)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Elliston
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Shawsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bennetts Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
- Alleghany Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Alleghany Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany Springs
- Montgomery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Montgomery is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Ellett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Houchins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Houchins is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
- Mount Tabor Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Tabor Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor Village
- Old Farm Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Old Farm Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Farm Village
- Raintree Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Raintree Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raintree Village
- Blacksburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sundance Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Sundance Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sundance Village
- McBryde Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- McBryde Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBryde Village
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Goodview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Villamont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Villamont is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villamont
- Chamblissburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Montvale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Coonsville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Coonsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coonsville
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Cloverdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Runaway Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Runaway Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Village
- Apple Tree Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Apple Tree Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Tree Village
- Daleville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Haymakertown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
- Amsterdam
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Laymantown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Laymantown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laymantown
- Troutville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Blue Ridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fincastle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Botetourt ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Botetourt is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botetourt
- Oriskany
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lithia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lithia is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithia
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Abbott
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Abbott is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Huffman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Huffman is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Simmonsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Simmonsville is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
- Captain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Captain is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captain
- New Castle
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Simpsons
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Simpsons is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsons
- Terrys Fork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Terrys Fork is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrys Fork
- Sowers
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Sowers is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sowers
- Pizarro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Pizarro is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pizarro
- Poff
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Poff is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poff
- Floyd
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Haycock
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Haycock is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haycock
- Duncan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Duncan is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Indian Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Algoma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Algoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoma
- Boones Mill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hickman
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Hickman is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Gogginsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gogginsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gogginsville
- Burnt Chimney
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Barfoot
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Barfoot is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfoot
- Ferrum
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Mount
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Villa ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Redwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Prilliman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Prilliman is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prilliman
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Newport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Newport is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Mountain Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Lake is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake
- Kire
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Kire is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kire
- Goodwins Ferry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
- Eggleston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pembroke
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pearisburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Poplar Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Bluff City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Patrick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Charity
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Charity is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
- Dodson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Dodson is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Cowan
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Fairlawn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Parrott
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Snowville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Snowville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowville
- Dublin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Newbern
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wurno
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Radford City
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Mill Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Simpkins Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Radford Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Radford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Sunset Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- New Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Roanoke
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Garden City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Roanoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Riverside
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Riverside is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Wabun
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Wabun is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabun
- Bent Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cave Spring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Moomaw ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Moomaw is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moomaw
- Catawba
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hanging Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hanging Rock is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Rock
- Mason Cove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mason Cove is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Cove
- Hollins
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vinton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Montgomery Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Salem City
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Salem
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Salem City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Monroe County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Hollywood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hollywood is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Assurance
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Hillsdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsdale is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
- Wikel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Lafayette, see our County-by-County Page for Lafayette.
Cemeteries Near Lafayette ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lafayette.
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 Lafayette - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Lafayette covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Lafayette Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Richardson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Givens Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bandy - Goodwin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Duckwiller Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Moore - Bain Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Johns Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Beamer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Butts Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bennett Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Den Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Beard Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (662 more) ...
- Craighead Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Alls Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lawrence Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Lafayette had a population of 135 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
- Elliston
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bradshaw
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bradshaw is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradshaw
- Shawsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- McDonalds Mill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- McDonalds Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDonalds Mill
- Fagg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fagg is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagg
- Airpoint
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Airpoint is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airpoint
- Bennetts Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
- Alleghany Springs
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Alleghany Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany Springs
- Bent Mountain
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Poages Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Poages Mill is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poages Mill
- Ellett
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Yellow Sulphur Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Houchins
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Houchins is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
- Cave Spring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Moomaw ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Moomaw is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moomaw
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Lafayette. See our List of 1890's Communities around Lafayette.
Newspapers Published in Lafayette ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lafayette.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lafayette, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lafayette.
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 Lafayette:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bedford County
- Botetourt County
- Craig County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Giles County
- Patrick County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Salem City
- Monroe 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Lafayette) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Lafayette, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |