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 McCowan Spring (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 McCowan Spring. 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 McCowan Spring ...
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 McCowan Spring: McCowan Spg. (or less commonly used: McCowan Spng. or McCowan Sprng.)
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 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.
McCowan Spring is located in Bath 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 Bath County: Alleghany, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Greenbrier (WV) & Pocahontas (WV).
Below are the counties that are near McCowan Spring. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to McCowan Spring:
- Bath County (The home county of McCowan Spring)
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Yost
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Burnsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Bath Alum
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Bolar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bolar is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
- Millboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Warm Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mitchelltown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Mitchelltown is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
- Cowardin ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Cowardin is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
- Mountain Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Mountain Grove is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Healing Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Carloover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carloover is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Griffith
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Griffith is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Clifton Forge
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Iron Gate
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Selma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Selma is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Low Moor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Amherst County
- Alto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alto is located in Amherst County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
- Augusta County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Marble Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Marble Valley is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
- Craigsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Deerfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Deerfield is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
- Pond Gap ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pond Gap is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pond Gap
- Chapin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Chapin is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Newport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newport is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- West Augusta
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- West Augusta is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Augusta
- Middlebrook
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Arbor Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Arbor Hill is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbor Hill
- Spottswood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Spottswood is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spottswood
- Churchville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Greenville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Glen Wilton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
- Haden
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Haden is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
- Buena Vista City
- Buena Vista
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Highland County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Clover Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Clover Creek is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Creek
- Buckeye ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Buckeye is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckeye
- McDowell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Meadowdale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Meadowdale is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowdale
- Monterey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hightown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hightown is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
- Palo Alto
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Palo Alto is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo Alto
- Possum Trot
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Possum Trot is located in Highland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
- Lexington City
- Lexington
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Goshen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kerrs Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
- Brownsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Davis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Davis is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Fairfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield
- East Lexington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
- Marlbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Marlbrook is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlbrook
- Riverside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Zollman ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
- Buffalo Forge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Buffalo Forge is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Forge
- Fancy Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
- Longwood ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Staunton City
- Staunton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pendleton County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Harper
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Harper is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harper
- Moyers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Moyers is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moyers
- Pocahontas County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Frost
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Frost is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Huntersville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Green Bank
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sitlington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sitlington is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitlington
- Arbovale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cass
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Thorny Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Thorny Creek is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorny Creek
- Marlinton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Edray
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edray is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edray
- Buckeye
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to McCowan Spring, see our County-by-County Page for McCowan Spring.
Cemeteries Near McCowan Spring ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of McCowan Spring.
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 McCowan Spring - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for McCowan Spring covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Green Valley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Burnsville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bratton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Mt. Mary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Little River Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Big Valley Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Craigsville Memorial Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cleek Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Warm Springs Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- The Pines Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Stony Run Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Immanuel Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (94 more) ...
- Doyle Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Griffin Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lightner Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
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.<3>
While we didn't find McCowan Spring in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of McCowan Spring.
These communities are listed based on their distance from McCowan Spring, with the one closest to McCowan Spring listed first.
- Green Valley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Green Valley is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Valley
- Armstrong
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Armstrong is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armstrong
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Yost
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Williamsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Williamsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsville
- Burnsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Millboro Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Millboro Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millboro Springs
- Bath Alum
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Bells Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bells Valley is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Valley
- Marble Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Marble Valley is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marble Valley
- Millboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Goshen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Bolar
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bolar is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
- Craigsville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Deerfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Deerfield is located in Augusta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around McCowan Spring. See our List of 1890's Communities around McCowan Spring.
Newspapers Published in McCowan Spring ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around McCowan Spring.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of McCowan Spring, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for McCowan Spring.
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 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 McCowan Spring:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Bath County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alleghany County
- Amherst County
- Augusta County
- Botetourt County
- Buena Vista City
- Highland County
- Lexington City
- Rockbridge County
- Staunton City
- Pendleton County
- Pocahontas 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> | 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 McCowan Spring, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- McCowan Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |