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 Peaks (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 Peaks. 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 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.
Peaks is located in Hanover 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 Hanover County: Caroline, Goochland, Henrico, King William, Louisa, New Kent & Spotsylvania.
Below are the counties that are near Peaks. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Peaks:
- Hanover County (The home county of Peaks)
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Hanover
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Ashland
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Atlee Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Atlee Station is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlee Station
- Gwathmey
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gwathmey is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwathmey
- Mechanicsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Taylorsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Taylorsville is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
- Doswell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Verdon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Verdon is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdon
- Hylas
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hylas is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hylas
- Westwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Westwood is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Casco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Casco is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casco
- Goodall
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Goodall is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodall
- Rockville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Caroline County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Burruss Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Burruss Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burruss Corner
- Ruther Glen
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Penola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Penola is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penola
- DeJarnette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- DeJarnette is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeJarnette
- Sparta
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sparta is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Bowling Green
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Central Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Central Point is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Point
- New London
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- New London is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New London
- Stuart Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Stuart Corner is located in Caroline County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuart Corner
- Charles City County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Roxbury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roxbury is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roxbury
- Kimages
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kimages is located in Charles City County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimages
- Chesterfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Bon Air
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterfield Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield Village
- Ampt Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Ampt Hill is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ampt Hill
- Robious
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Robious is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robious
- Bensley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bensley is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bensley
- Bellwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bellwood is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
- Bensley Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bensley Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bensley Village
- Drewrys Bluff
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Drewrys Bluff is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drewrys Bluff
- Midlothian
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Beulah Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Beulah Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah Village
- Centralia
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Centralia is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centralia
- Chesterfield Court House
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Meadowville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Meadowville is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowville
- Essex County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Minor
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Minor is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minor
- Beazley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Beazley is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beazley
- Millers Tavern
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Millers Tavern is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millers Tavern
- Dunbrooke
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Dunbrooke is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbrooke
- Lloyds
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lloyds is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lloyds
- Loretto
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Loretto is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loretto
- Occupacia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Occupacia is located in Essex County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Occupacia
- Goochland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Oilville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Thorncliff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Thorncliff is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorncliff
- Goochland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Maidens
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Sandy Hook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Sandy Hook is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
- Henrico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Chamberlayne
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Chamberlayne is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlayne
- Longdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Longdale is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdale
- Quail Walk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Quail Walk is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Walk
- Hunton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Hunton is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunton
- Glen Allen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- East Highland Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- East Highland Park is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Highland Park
- Lakeside
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeside is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Laurel Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Village is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Village
- Dumbarton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dumbarton is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumbarton
- Oak Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Oak Hill is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Heckler Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Heckler Village is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heckler Village
- Highland Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Hopewell City
- Hopewell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- King and Queen County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Walkerton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Walkerton is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walkerton
- Cauthornville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cauthornville is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cauthornville
- Bruington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bruington is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruington
- Crouch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Crouch is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crouch
- Cumnor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cumnor is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumnor
- King and Queen Court House
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Contra
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Contra is located in King and Queen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Contra
- King William County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Enfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Enfield is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
- Tuck Fork
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tuck Fork is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuck Fork
- Manquin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Beulahville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Beulahville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulahville
- Rumford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rumford is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford
- Lanesville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lanesville is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lanesville
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Willowbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Willowbrook is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowbrook
- Bumpass
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bumpass is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bumpass
- Bumpass has also been known as:
- Bumpas
- Bumpass Junction
- Bumpass Station
- Bumpass Turnout
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bumpass <1>
- Jackson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Gays ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Gays is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
- Shelfar
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Shelfar is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelfar
- Harris ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Harris is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- New Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Tunstall
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tunstall is located in New Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunstall
- New Kent
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Powhatan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Huguenot
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Huguenot is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huguenot
- Dorset
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dorset is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorset
- Beaumont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Beaumont is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
- Michaux
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Michaux is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michaux
- Richmond City
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Richmond
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Montrose Heights
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Montrose Heights is located in Richmond City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose Heights
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Chippenham Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chippenham Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippenham Village
- Cherry Gardens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cherry Gardens is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Gardens
- Walmsley Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Walmsley Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walmsley Village
- Spotsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Partlow
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marye
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Marye is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marye
- Arcadia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Arcadia is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Thornburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lewiston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lewiston is located in Spotsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewiston
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Peaks, see our County-by-County Page for Peaks.
Cemeteries Near Peaks ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Peaks.
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 Peaks - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Peaks covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Signal Hill Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wickham Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wickham Family Cemetery
- The Wickham Family Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hickory Hill Cemetery
- Providence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lewiston Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cool Spring Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Schermerhorn Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Abraham Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Enon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Chestnut Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Second Union Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (197 more) ...
- Luther Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Glen Allen Baptist Churchyard
(7 miles [11.3 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, Peaks had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Peaks, with the one closest to Peaks listed first.
- Cady
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Cady is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cady
- Ashcake
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Ashcake is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashcake
- French Hay
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- French Hay is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Hay
- Atlee Station
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Atlee Station is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlee Station
- South Anna
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- South Anna is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Anna
- Ashland
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pole Green
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pole Green is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pole Green
- Studley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Allen
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ellerson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Ellerson is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerson
- Etna Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Etna Mills is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna Mills
- Laurel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Brook Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Brook Hill is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brook Hill
- Taylorsville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Taylorsville is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
- Mangohick
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mangohick is located in King William County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mangohick
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Peaks. See our List of 1890's Communities around Peaks.
Newspapers Published in Peaks ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Peaks.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Peaks, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Peaks.
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 websites either 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 Peaks:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Hanover County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Caroline County
- Charles City County
- Chesterfield County
- Essex County
- Goochland County
- Henrico County
- Hopewell City
- King and Queen County
- King William County
- Louisa County
- New Kent County
- Powhatan County
- Richmond City
- Richmond County
- Spotsylvania 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> | 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- Peaks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Peaks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |