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 Ontario (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 Ontario. 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 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.
Ontario is located in Charlotte 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 Charlotte County: Appomattox, Campbell, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg & Prince Edward.
Below are the counties that are near Ontario. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ontario:
- Charlotte County (The home county of Ontario)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Keysville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Drakes Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Charlotte Court House
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wylliesburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Abilene
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Abilene is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abilene
- Cullen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cullen is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cullen
- Phenix
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Phenix is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Rough Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rough Creek is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Creek
- Aspenwall
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Abell ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Appomattox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Pamplin City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chap is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chap
- Hurtsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hurtsville is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurtsville
- Evergreen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Evergreen is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
- Spring Mills
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Brunswick County
- Jonesboro ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jonesboro is located in Brunswick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonesboro
- Buckingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Sheppards
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sheppards is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheppards
- Curdsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Curdsville is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curdsville
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Hat Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hat Creek is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hat Creek
- Brookneal
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cumberland County
- Cotton Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cotton Town is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
- Fluvanna County
- Scottsburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Clover
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Midway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Midway is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Clays Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Clays Mill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Mill
- Crystal Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Nathalie
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rabat
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Aarons Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Aarons Creek is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aarons Creek
- Loftis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Banister Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Halifax
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Omega
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Omega is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- South Boston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lunenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Pleasant Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Meherrin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Meherrin is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meherrin
- Lunenburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Lunenburg is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lunenburg
- Nutbush
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Nutbush is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutbush
- Victoria
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wattsboro
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wattsboro is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wattsboro
- Oral Oaks
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Oral Oaks is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oral Oaks
- Kenbridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bagleys Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bagleys Mills is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagleys Mills
- Lochleven
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lochleven is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lochleven
- Dundas
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Dundas is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundas
- Mecklenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Finneywood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Finneywood is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finneywood
- Chase City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wightman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wightman is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wightman
- Orgainville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Orgainville is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orgainville
- Ogburn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ogburn is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogburn
- Skipwith
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Skipwith is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipwith
- Dunns Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dunns Corner is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunns Corner
- Boydton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Opie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Opie is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Opie
- Finchley
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Finchley is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finchley
- Jeffress
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jeffress is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffress
- Union Level
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Union Level is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Level
- Nottoway County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Winnie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Winnie is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnie
- Burkeville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Crewe
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Blackstone
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Forkland ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Forkland is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forkland
- Prince Edward County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Green Bay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Darlington Heights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Darlington Heights is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darlington Heights
- Blake Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Blake Village is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake Village
- Five Forks
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Five Forks is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Forks
- Hampden - Sydney
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Hampden - Sydney is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampden - Sydney
- Farmville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tuggle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tuggle is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuggle
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ontario, see our County-by-County Page for Ontario.
Cemeteries Near Ontario ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ontario.
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 Ontario - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ontario covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Friendship Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ash Camp Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mt. Ellis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Gregory Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Staples Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Payneton Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Tussekiah Baptist Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Spencer Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bruce Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- Evergreen Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Black Branch Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Tussekiah Baptist Church Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
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 Ontario had a population of 12 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ontario, with the one closest to Ontario listed first.
- Keysville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Fort Mitchell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fort Mitchell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Mitchell
- Plantersville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Plantersville is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plantersville
- Pleasant Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Grove is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Grove
- Drakes Branch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Finneywood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Finneywood is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finneywood
- Briery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Briery is located in Prince Edward County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Briery
- Mossingford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Mossingford is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossingford
- Rehoboth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rehoboth is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rehoboth
- Saxe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- County Line Cross Roads
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wylliesburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Meherrin
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Meherrin is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meherrin
- Nutbush
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Nutbush is located in Lunenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutbush
- Randolph
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ontario. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ontario.
Newspapers Published in Ontario ...
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 59 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ontario.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ontario, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ontario.
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 Ontario:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Charlotte County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appomattox County
- Brunswick County
- Buckingham County
- Campbell County
- Cumberland County
- Fluvanna County
- Halifax County
- Lunenburg County
- Mecklenburg County
- Nottoway County
- Prince Edward 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 Ontario, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ontario) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |