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 Radford (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 Radford. 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.
Radford is located in Bedford 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 Bedford County: Amherst, Botetourt, Campbell, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Roanoke & Rockbridge.
Below are the counties that are near Radford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Radford:
- Bedford County (The home county of Radford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Moneta
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Davis Mill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Goodview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Huddleston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Joppa Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Chamblissburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Coonsville ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Coonsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coonsville
- Lowry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Montvale
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Peaksville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Peaksville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Goode
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Villamont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Villamont is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villamont
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Blue Ridge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Laymantown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Laymantown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laymantown
- Apple Tree Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Apple Tree Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Tree Village
- Runaway Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Runaway Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Village
- Cloverdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Troutville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lithia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Lithia is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithia
- Daleville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Amsterdam
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Botetourt ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Botetourt is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botetourt
- Buchanan
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fincastle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Haymakertown
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Leesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Lynch Station
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Altavista
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bedford Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Timberlake
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Timberlake is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
- Lawyers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Powhatan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Powhatan is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhatan
- Yellow Branch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Gladys
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rustburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- North Shore
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Westlake Corner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Union Hall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Penhook
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Burnt Chimney
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Villa ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Redwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Laprades Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- Rocky Mount
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Boones Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Gogginsville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Gogginsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gogginsville
- Halifax County
- Cody
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Henry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Leatherwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Leatherwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Oak Level
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Level is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Level
- Reed Creek Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Reed Creek Village is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek Village
- Lynchburg City
- Woodbine Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Woodbine Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Village
- Pittsylvania County
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Pittsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Museville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Museville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Museville
- Hurt
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hurt is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hurt <1>
- Worlds
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Worlds is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Worlds
- Gretna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brutus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Whittles
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Whittles is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittles
- Whittles has also been known as:
- Whittle's Depot
- Whittle's Station
- Weal
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Weal is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weal
- Grady
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Grady is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Chalk Level
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Sheva
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Sonans
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Chatham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Garden City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Buena Vista
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Roanoke
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Roanoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Montgomery Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Vinton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Hollins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Cave Spring
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Hanging Rock
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hanging Rock is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Rock
- Bent Mountain
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Mason Cove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mason Cove is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Cove
- Wabun
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wabun is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabun
- Salem City
- The following are listed by their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Sunset Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sunset Village is located in Salem City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Salem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Radford, see our County-by-County Page for Radford.
Cemeteries Near Radford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Radford.
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 Radford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Radford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Meador Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Booth - Joplin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Bohn / Cundiff Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ressurection Catholic Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Witcher Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Morgans Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Casey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Halesford Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Toney Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Morgan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Minter Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (729 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Altice Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Epworth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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 Radford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Radford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Radford, with the one closest to Radford listed first.
- Otter View ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Otter View is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter View
- Moneta
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Scruggs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Scruggs is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scruggs
- Kasey
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kasey is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kasey
- Fancy Grove ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fancy Grove is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Grove
- Davis Mill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Dundee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Dundee is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dundee
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Goodview
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Chestnut Fork
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Chestnut Fork is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut Fork
- Dillons Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Dillons Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillons Mill
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Union Hall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chamblissburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Radford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Radford.
Newspapers Published in Radford ...
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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Radford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Radford, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Radford.
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 Radford:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Bedford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bedford City
- Botetourt County
- Campbell County
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Henry County
- Lynchburg City
- Pittsylvania County
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Salem City
- 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- Radford) 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 Radford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |