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 Preston Forest (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 Preston Forest. 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 Preston Forest ...
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 Preston Forest: Preston Frst.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Preston Forest. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Preston Forest.
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 northwest 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 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 west 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.
Preston Forest is located in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County: Craig, Floyd, Giles, Pulaski & Roanoke.
Below are the counties that are near Preston Forest. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Preston Forest:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Preston Forest)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Mount Tabor Village
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Mount Tabor Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor Village
- McBryde Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- McBryde Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBryde Village
- Bennetts Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
- Sundance Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sundance Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sundance Village
- Blacksburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ellett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Merrimac
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Merrimac is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
- Prices Fork
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prices Fork is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prices Fork
- Houchins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Houchins is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
- Christiansburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Old Farm Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Old Farm Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Farm Village
- Elliston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Montgomery is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Haymakertown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
- Cloverdale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Runaway Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Runaway Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Village
- Amsterdam
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Apple Tree Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Apple Tree Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Tree Village
- Daleville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Laymantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Laymantown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laymantown
- Troutville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Huffman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Huffman is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Captain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Captain is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captain
- Simmonsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Simmonsville is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
- Abbott
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Abbott is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- New Castle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Terrys Fork
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Terrys Fork is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrys Fork
- Sowers
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Sowers is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sowers
- Simpsons
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Simpsons is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsons
- Poff
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Poff is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poff
- Duncan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Duncan is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Floyd
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Pizarro
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pizarro is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pizarro
- Indian Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Haycock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Haycock is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haycock
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Algoma
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Algoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoma
- Boones Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hickman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hickman is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Newport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Newport is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Mountain Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Lake is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake
- Eggleston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Goodwins Ferry
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
- Kire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Kire is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kire
- Pembroke
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Pearisburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bluff City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Poplar Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Thessalia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Narrows
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Rich Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lurich
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lurich is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Cowan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Fairlawn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Parrott
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Snowville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Snowville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowville
- Dublin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Newbern
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Wurno
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Hilton Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Mack Creek Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Pulaski
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Draper
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Radford City
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Mill Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Radford Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Radford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Simpkins Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Sunset Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- New Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Roanoke
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Garden City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Roanoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Riverside
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Riverside is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Wabun
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wabun is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabun
- Moomaw ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Moomaw is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moomaw
- Catawba
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bent Mountain
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mason Cove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Mason Cove is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Cove
- Hanging Rock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hanging Rock is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Rock
- Cave Spring
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Hollins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Vinton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Montgomery Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Salem City
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Salem
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sunset Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Sunset Village is located in Salem City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Logan County (WV)
- Rich Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rich Creek is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- Mercer County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Willowton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Willowton is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowton
- Elgood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Elgood is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgood
- Oakvale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Monroe County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Assurance
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Wikel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wikel is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wikel
- Hollywood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hollywood is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Population from the 2020 Census: 539 people
- Hillsdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Peterstown
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Ballard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Ballard is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
- Wayside
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wayside is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Creamery
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Creamery is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creamery
- Wolfcreek
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wolfcreek is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfcreek
- Summers County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Forest Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bargers Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bargers Springs is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bargers Springs
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Preston Forest, see our County-by-County Page for Preston Forest.
Cemeteries Near Preston Forest ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Preston Forest.
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 Preston Forest - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Preston Forest covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Hale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Westview Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Anderson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stebar Family Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Leffel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Williams Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bennett Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Whitelock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hypes Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Level Green Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clover Hollow Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (342 more) ...
- Newport Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Kipps Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(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.<2>
While we didn't find Preston Forest in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Preston Forest.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Preston Forest, with the one closest to Preston Forest listed first.
- Bennetts Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
- Blacksburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Huffman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Huffman is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Newport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Newport is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Ellett
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Prices Fork
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Prices Fork is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prices Fork
- Yellow Sulphur Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fagg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fagg is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fagg
- Captain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Captain is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Captain
- McDonalds Mill
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- McDonalds Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McDonalds Mill
- Simmonsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Simmonsville is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
- Maybrook
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Maybrook is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maybrook
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Mountain Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mountain Lake is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Lake
- Vicker
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vicker is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vicker
- Houchins
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Houchins is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houchins
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Preston Forest. See our List of 1890's Communities around Preston Forest.
Newspapers Published in Preston Forest ...
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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Preston Forest.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Preston Forest, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Preston Forest.
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 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 Preston Forest:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Botetourt County
- Craig County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Giles County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Salem City
- Logan County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Summers 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> | 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 Preston Forest, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Preston Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |