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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 Lofton (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 Lofton. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Lofton is located in Augusta 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 Augusta County: Albemarle, Bath, Highland, Nelson, Rockbridge, Rockingham & Pendleton (WV).

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

  • Augusta County     (The home county of Lofton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lofton, with the one closest to Lofton listed first.
    • Steeles Tavern
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Spottswood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Spottswood is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
    • Greenville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Middlebrook
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Stuarts Draft
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Newport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Newport is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Arbor Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Arbor Hill is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
    • Sherando
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Sherando is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherando
    • Jolivue
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jolivue is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jolivue
    • Lipscomb
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lipscomb is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
    • Pond Gap ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Pond Gap is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Gap
    • Brand
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Brand is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brand
    • Lyndhurst
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Albemarle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lofton, with the one closest to Lofton listed first.
    • Batesville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Yancey Mills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
    • Covesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Covesville is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Covesville
    • Foothill Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Foothill Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foothill Village
    • Crozet
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • North Garden
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • White Hall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • White Hall is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Alberene
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Alberene is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberene
    • Mountfair
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Mountfair is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountfair
  • Amherst County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lofton, with the one closest to Lofton listed first.
    • Alto
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Alto is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
    • Lowesville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Forks of Buffalo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Forks of Buffalo is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forks of Buffalo
    • Sandidges
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Sandidges is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandidges
    • Allwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Allwood is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allwood
    • Monitor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Monitor is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monitor
    • Pleasant View
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Pleasant View is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant View
    • New Glasgow
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • New Glasgow is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Glasgow
    • Amherst
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Pedlar Mills
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Pedlar Mills is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pedlar Mills
    • Sweet Briar Station
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Sweet Briar Station is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Briar Station
    • Coolwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Coolwell is located in Amherst County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coolwell
  • Bath County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lofton, with the one closest to Lofton listed first.
    • Yost
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Yost is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
    • Millboro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
    • Burnsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Burnsville is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
    • Bath Alum
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Bath Alum is located in Bath County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
  • Buena Vista City
    • Buena Vista
      (18 miles [29 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Nelson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lofton, with the one closest to Lofton listed first.
    • Tyro
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bryant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bryant is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
    • Jonesboro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jonesboro is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
    • Massies Mill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Massies Mill is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massies Mill
    • Nellysford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Greenfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Lodebar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Lodebar is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodebar
    • Afton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Onan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Onan is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
    • Adial
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Adial is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adial
    • Durrett Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
    • Old Myndus
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Old Myndus is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Myndus
    • Colleen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Colleen is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colleen
  • Rockbridge County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lofton, with the one closest to Lofton listed first.
    • Davis
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Davis is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Fairfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
    • Marlbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
    • Brownsburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Riverside
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
    • East Lexington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
    • Goshen
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Kerrs Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
    • Buffalo Forge
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Buffalo Forge is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Forge
    • Zollman ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
    • Fancy Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
    • Glasgow
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Longwood ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
  • Rockingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lofton, with the one closest to Lofton listed first.
    • Mount Crawford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • North River
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • North River is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
  • Staunton City
    • Staunton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Waynesboro City
    • Waynesboro
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Lofton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lofton.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Stony Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Greenville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Haines Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Grant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Sandy Ridge Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • White Rock Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • New Providence Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Fairfield Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Herman Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • McDowell Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (176 more) ...
    • Irish Creek Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Spring Valley Baptist Church Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Clarks Mtn. Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Lofton had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Steeles Tavern
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Spottswood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Spottswood is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
  • Raphine
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Vesuvius
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Greenville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Davis
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Davis is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
  • Montebello
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Irish Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Irish Creek is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irish Creek
  • Middlebrook
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Avis
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Avis is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avis
  • Brownsburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Fairfield
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Marlbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
    • Stuarts Draft
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Mint Spring
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Mint Spring is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mint Spring

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

Newspapers Published in Lofton ...

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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lofton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lofton, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lofton.

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 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 Lofton:

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