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 Raketown (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 Raketown. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Raketown is located in Carroll 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 Carroll County: Floyd, Grayson, Patrick, Pulaski, Surry & Wythe.
Below are the counties that are near Raketown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Raketown:
- Carroll County (The home county of Raketown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Sheep Town
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sheep Town is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheep Town
- Oak Grove
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Shorts Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Shorts Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorts Creek
- Woodlawn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvatus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Hillsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Star
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Star is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star
- Pipers Gap
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pipers Gap is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pipers Gap
- Drenn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Drenn is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenn
- Fancy Gap
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Dugspur
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Lambsburg
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Bland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mechanicsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Bastian
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hicksville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Rocky Gap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Round Bottom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Round Bottom is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Indian Valley
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Duncan
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Duncan is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Galax City
- Galax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Giles County
- Poplar Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Grayson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Fries
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Elk Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Baywood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Baywood is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
- Low Gap
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Low Gap is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Gap
- Independence
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bridle Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bridle Creek is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridle Creek
- Flat Ridge
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Flat Ridge is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Ridge
- Mouth-of-Wilson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Trout Dale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rugby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rugby is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rugby
- Montgomery County
- Childress
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Childress is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childress
- Patrick County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Ararat
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Carters Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Carters Mill is located in Patrick County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carters Mill
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Draper
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Mack Creek Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Pulaski
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Hilton Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Wurno
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Newbern
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Dublin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Snowville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Snowville is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowville
- Radford City
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- New Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Sunset Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Radford Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Radford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Simpkins Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Smyth County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Atkins
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sugar Grove is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Mount Carmel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Mount Carmel is located in Smyth County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Carmel
- Marion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tazewell County
- Little Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Ivanhoe
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Austinville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Siloam
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Siloam is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Fort Chiswell
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
- Kent
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Locust Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Locust Hill is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Max Meadows
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Wytheville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rowe Crossroads
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Rowe Crossroads is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe Crossroads
- Speedwell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Speedwell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedwell
- Crockett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Rural Retreat
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Alleghany County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Edmonds
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Edmonds is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmonds
- Ennice
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hooker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hooker is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Sparta
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sparta is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,723 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sparta <1>
- Amelia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Amelia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amelia
- Glade Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Piney Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Roaring Gap
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Topia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Topia is located in Alleghany County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topia
- Scottville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Ashe County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Grassy Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Weavers Ford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Weavers Ford is located in Ashe County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weavers Ford
- Surry County (NC)
- The following are listed by their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Low Gap
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Round Peak
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Round Peak is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Peak
- Devotion
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Devotion is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devotion
- Red Brush
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Red Brush is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Brush
- Toast
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Toast is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toast
- Mount Airy
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Rock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Rock is located in Surry County (NC)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Raketown, see our County-by-County Page for Raketown.
Cemeteries Near Raketown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Raketown.
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 Raketown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Raketown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Fairview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- IOOF Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Burnett - Hanks Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Alley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Burnett - Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- King Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Trigg Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Edwards Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- River Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Joseph Bryant Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (620 more) ...
- Sharp Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Frazier Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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>
While we didn't find Raketown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Raketown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Raketown, with the one closest to Raketown listed first.
- Ivanhoe
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Grayson
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Grayson is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Austinville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Walton Furnace
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Walton Furnace is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton Furnace
- Stevens Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Stevens Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Creek
- Shorts Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Shorts Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorts Creek
- Fosters Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fosters Falls is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fosters Falls
- Cripple Creek
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cripple Creek is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cripple Creek
- Spring Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Valley is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Valley
- Fallville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fallville is located in Grayson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallville
- Wolf Glade
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wolf Glade is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Glade
- Kent
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Bertha
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bertha is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
- Grahams Forge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Grahams Forge is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grahams Forge
- Woodlawn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Raketown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Raketown.
Newspapers Published in Raketown ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Raketown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Raketown, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Raketown.
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 helpful 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 Raketown:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Carroll County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bland County
- Floyd County
- Galax City
- Giles County
- Grayson County
- Montgomery County
- Patrick County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Wythe County
- Alleghany County
- Ashe County
- Surry 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 Raketown, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Raketown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |