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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 Oakton (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 Oakton. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Oakton is located in Fairfax 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 Fairfax County: Charles (MD), Montgomery (MD), Prince George's (MD), Arlington, Falls Church City, Loudoun & Prince William.

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

  • Fairfax County     (The home county of Oakton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oakton, with the one closest to Oakton listed first.
    • Vienna
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Mantua
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Mantua is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantua
    • Random Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Merrifield
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Hunts Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hunts Village is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunts Village
    • Lee-Hi Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lee-Hi Village is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee-Hi Village
    • Pender
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Pender is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pender
    • Dunn Loring
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Idylwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Idylwood is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idylwood
    • Shouse Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Shouse Village is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shouse Village
    • Ash Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ash Grove is located in Fairfax County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ash Grove
    • Tysons Corner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Alexandria City
  • Arlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oakton, with the one closest to Oakton listed first.
    • Garden City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Garden City is located in Arlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Williamsburg Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Williamsburg Village is located in Arlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg Village
    • Brandon Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Brandon Village is located in Arlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandon Village
    • Arlington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Buckingham
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Cherrydale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Riverwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Arlington Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Arlington Village is located in Arlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arlington Village
    • Colonial Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Colonial Village is located in Arlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colonial Village
    • Lyon Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Lyon Village is located in Arlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon Village
  • Fairfax City
  • Falls Church City
  • Fauquier County
  • Loudoun County
  • Manassas City
  • Manassas Park City
    • Manassas Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Prince William County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oakton, with the one closest to Oakton listed first.
    • Yorkshire
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Yorkshire is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire
    • Yorkshire Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Yorkshire Village is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkshire Village
    • Loch Lomond
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Loch Lomond is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loch Lomond
    • Buckhall
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Iron Gate
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Iron Gate is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
    • Sudley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sudley is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sudley
    • West Gate
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • West Gate is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Gate
    • Lake Ridge
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Bull Run
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bull Run is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bull Run
    • Crestwood Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Crestwood Village is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crestwood Village
    • Agnewville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Bataan Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bataan Village is located in Prince William County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bataan Village
  • Stafford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oakton, with the one closest to Oakton listed first.
    • Aquia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Widewater Village at Stafford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • King James Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • King James Village is located in Stafford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King James Village
    • Aquia Harbour
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Aquia Harbour is located in Stafford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aquia Harbour
    • Meadowood Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Meadowood Village is located in Stafford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowood Village
  • Anne Arundel County (MD)
    • Maryland City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Maryland City is located in Anne Arundel County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maryland City
  • Charles County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oakton, with the one closest to Oakton listed first.
    • Riverview Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Riverview Village is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview Village
    • Potomac Heights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Potomac Heights is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potomac Heights
    • Indian Head
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Bryans Road
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • South Hampton Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • South Hampton Village is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hampton Village
    • Marbury
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Marbury is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marbury
    • Pomonkey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Mattawoman Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Mattawoman Village is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattawoman Village
    • Freedom Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Freedom Village is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freedom Village
    • Bennsville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Bennsville is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennsville
    • Pomfret
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Westlake Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Westlake Village is located in Charles County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Village
  • Frederick County (MD)
  • Howard County (MD)
  • Montgomery County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oakton, with the one closest to Oakton listed first.
    • Brookmont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Brookmont is located in Montgomery County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookmont
    • Cabin John
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Glen Echo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Potomac
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Bradmoor
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • English Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • English Village is located in Montgomery County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Village
    • Landon Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Landon Village is located in Montgomery County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Landon Village
    • Somerset
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Somerset is located in Montgomery County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,259 people
    • Bethesda
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Chevy Chase Section Three
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Chevy Chase Section Three is located in Montgomery County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevy Chase Section Three
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 794 people
    • Chevy Chase Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Chevy Chase Village is located in Montgomery County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevy Chase Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,050 people
    • Chevy Chase
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Prince George's County (MD)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Oakton, with the one closest to Oakton listed first.
    • Forest Heights
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Forest Heights is located in Prince George's County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,558 people
    • Chillum
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Oxon Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Fort Foote Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Fort Foote Village is located in Prince George's County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Foote Village
    • Brentwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Brentwood is located in Prince George's County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brentwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,439 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brentwood <1>
    • Hillcrest Heights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Hillcrest Heights is located in Prince George's County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest Heights
    • Mount Rainier
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Langley Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Colmar Manor
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Colmar Manor is located in Prince George's County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colmar Manor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,458 people
    • Cottage City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Cottage City is located in Prince George's County (MD)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottage City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,355 people
    • Adelphi
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Fort Washington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Oakton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakton.

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

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

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

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Oakton had a population of 26 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

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

Newspapers Published in Oakton ...

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 14 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oakton, there are papers which were published within 6 miles [9.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oakton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Oakton:

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 Oakton, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Oakton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.