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 Mount Airy (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 Mount Airy. 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 Mount Airy ...
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 Mount Airy: Mt. Airy
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Mount Airy. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Mount Airy.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
Mount Airy is located in Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah County: Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Warren & Hardy (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Mount Airy. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mount Airy:
- Shenandoah County (The home county of Mount Airy)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Mount Jackson
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Rinkerton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rinkerton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinkerton
- Mount Clifton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
- New Market
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Edinburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Grove is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Columbia Furnace
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Columbia Furnace is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Furnace
- Basye - Bryce Mountain
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Calvary
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Calvary is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary
- Jerome
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jerome is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Orkney Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Woodstock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Frederick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Middletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Falls
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mountain Falls is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Falls
- Tulip
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Tulip is located in Frederick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulip
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Kinderhook
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kinderhook is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
- Stanardsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Harrisonburg City
- Harrisonburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Syria
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Peola Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Peola Mills is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peola Mills
- Hood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ruth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ruth is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Wolftown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Madison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tryme
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tryme is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryme
- Page County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Leaksville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leaksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaksville
- Luray
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Stanley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Kimball
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Kimball is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
- Marksville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marksville
- Rileyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Shenandoah
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Verbena
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Verbena is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Rappahannock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Sperryville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rediviva
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rediviva is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rediviva
- Washington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Woodville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Woodville is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Scrabble
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Scrabble is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
- Slate Mills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Slate Mills is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Mills
- Chester Gap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Chester Gap is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Gap
- Reager
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Reager is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reager
- Rockingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Plains Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Plains Mill is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plains Mill
- Timberville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Broadway
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mayland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mayland is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayland
- Tunis
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Tunis is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
- Cootes Store
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Cootes Store is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cootes Store
- Daphna
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Daphna is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daphna
- Lacey Spring
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey Spring is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey Spring
- Turleytown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Turleytown is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turleytown
- Cherry Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cherry Grove is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Fulks Run
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fulks Run is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulks Run
- Linville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Linville is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Overall
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Overall is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overall
- Bentonville
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Limeton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Limeton is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limeton
- Waterlick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Waterlick is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterlick
- Royal Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Royal Village is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Village
- Viscose City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Viscose City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viscose City
- Front Royal
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Riverton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Riverton is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton
- Reliance
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Reliance is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Applewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Applewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Applewood
- Cedarville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Happy Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Happy Creek is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Creek
- Grant County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Dorcas
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dorcas is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcas
- Seemly ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Seemly is located in Grant County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seemly
- Hardy County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Mathias
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lost City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Baker
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Baker is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Wardensville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Peru
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Peru is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
- Fort Run
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fort Run is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Run
- Inkerman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Inkerman is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inkerman
- Durgon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Durgon is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgon
- Moorefield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pendleton County (WV)
- Fort Seybert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fort Seybert is located in Pendleton County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Seybert
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mount Airy, see our County-by-County Page for Mount Airy.
Cemeteries Near Mount Airy ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mount Airy.
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 Mount Airy - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mount Airy covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Woods Chapel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mt. Jackson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Central Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Our Soldiers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Grace Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Marks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Matthews Cemetery
- The St. Matthews Cemetery has also been known as:
- Reformation Cemetery
- Reformation Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #947159 <2>
- Mt. Clifton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Solomons Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (323 more) ...
- Thomas Family Cemetery #2
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Billheimer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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 Mount Airy in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mount Airy.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mount Airy, with the one closest to Mount Airy listed first.
- Mount Jackson
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Quicksburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hawkinstown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hawkinstown is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkinstown
- Rinkerton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rinkerton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinkerton
- New Market Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- New Market Station is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market Station
- New Market
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hamburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Hamburg is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
- Mount Clifton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
- Forestville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Forestville is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forestville
- Edinburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Leaksville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Leaksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaksville
- Timberville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Alma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alma is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Luray
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Willow Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Grove is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mount Airy. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mount Airy.
Newspapers Published in Mount Airy ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mount Airy.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mount Airy, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mount Airy.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Mount Airy:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Shenandoah County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Frederick County
- Greene County
- Harrisonburg City
- Madison County
- Page County
- Rappahannock County
- Rockingham County
- Warren County
- Grant County
- Hardy County
- Pendleton 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 Mount Airy, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Mount Airy) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |