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 Plato (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 Plato. 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 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.
Plato is located in Halifax 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 Halifax County: Caswell (NC), Granville (NC), Person (NC), Campbell, Charlotte, Mecklenburg & Pittsylvania.
Below are the counties that are near Plato. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plato:
- Halifax County (The home county of Plato)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Rodden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Sign Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Jones
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Halifax
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Westside Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Westside Village is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside Village
- Banister Town
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Leda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Crystal Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Loftis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Elmo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Clays Mill
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Clays Mill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clays Mill
- South Boston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Brookneal
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Melrose
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Hat Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hat Creek is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hat Creek
- Gladys
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Altavista
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lynch Station
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Mount Zion
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Leesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Aspenwall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Abell ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Wylliesburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Phenix
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Phenix is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Population from the 2020 Census: 211 people
- Rough Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rough Creek is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rough Creek
- Charlotte Court House
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Drakes Branch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Danville City
- Danville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Fluvanna County
- Scottsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
- Mecklenburg County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Nelson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Nelson is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Orgainville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Orgainville is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orgainville
- Averett
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Averett is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averett
- Henrico
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Henrico is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrico
- Jeffress
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Jeffress is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffress
- Clarksville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mill Village is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Shiny Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shiny Rock is located in Mecklenburg County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiny Rock
- Pittsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Henrys Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Henrys Mill is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrys Mill
- Riceville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Lucks
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Lucks is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucks
- Java
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Java is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Java
- Markham
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Laurel Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Grove
- Renan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Spring Garden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Spring Garden is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
- Chalk Level
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Kentuck
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Kentuck is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentuck
- Sheva
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Sonans
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Caswell County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Milton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Semora
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Estelle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Estelle is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
- Blanch
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Gatewood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gatewood is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gatewood
- Providence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Providence is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Providence
- Leasburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Whitetown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Whitetown is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitetown
- Pelham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pelham is located in Caswell County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pelham
- Granville County (NC)
- Wilbourns
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wilbourns is located in Granville County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbourns
- Person County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Ceffo
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ceffo is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceffo
- Concord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Concord is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concord
- Hicks Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Hicks Village is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks Village
- Roxboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Allensville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Allensville is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allensville
- Whitt Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Whitt Town is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitt Town
- Roseville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Roseville is located in Person County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plato, see our County-by-County Page for Plato.
Cemeteries Near Plato ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plato.
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 Plato - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plato covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Asbury Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- New Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Murphy Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- McKendree Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Level Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Union UMC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Millstone Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- County Line Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ingram Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (176 more) ...
- Halifax Town Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Winns Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- The Peaceful Tabernacle Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
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>
While we didn't find Plato in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Plato.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plato, with the one closest to Plato listed first.
- Meadville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Meadville is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadville
- Rodden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Mountain Road
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain Road is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Road
- Alchie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Alchie is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alchie
- Peytonsburg
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Peytonsburg is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peytonsburg
- Ingram
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ingram is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingram
- Leda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Pickaway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pickaway is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickaway
- Crystal Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Loftis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Elmo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Volens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Volens is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volens
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Riceville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Brooklyn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Paces
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Paces is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paces
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plato. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plato.
Newspapers Published in Plato ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plato.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plato, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Plato.
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 Plato:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Halifax County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Danville City
- Fluvanna County
- Madison County
- Mecklenburg County
- Pittsylvania County
- Caswell County
- Granville County
- Person 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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Plato) 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 Plato, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |