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 Salem (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 Salem. 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.
Salem is located in Page 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 Page County: Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah & Warren.
Below are the counties that are near Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Salem:
- Page County (The home county of Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Leaksville
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Leaksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaksville
- Luray
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Marksville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Marksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marksville
- Stanley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Kimball
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kimball is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
- Rileyville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shenandoah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Verbena
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Verbena is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
- Albemarle County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Cedarmere
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cedarmere is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
- Boonesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Boonesville is located in Albemarle County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boonesville
- Augusta County
- Grottoes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Culpeper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Griffinsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Griffinsburg is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffinsburg
- Eggbornsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Eggbornsville is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eggbornsville
- Salem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Salem is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
- Homeland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Homeland is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homeland
- Norman
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Norman is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norman
- Waylands Mill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Waylands Mill is located in Culpeper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waylands Mill
- Frederick County
- Middletown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greene County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Kinderhook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Kinderhook is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
- Stanardsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Amicus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Amicus is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amicus
- Cedarmere ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cedarmere is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
- Quinque
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Quinque is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinque
- Dawsonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dawsonville is located in Greene County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
- Harrisonburg City
- Harrisonburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Syria
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Peola Mills
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Peola Mills is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peola Mills
- Hood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ruth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Ruth is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
- Wolftown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Madison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tryme
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tryme is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryme
- Aroda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Aroda is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aroda
- Radiant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Radiant is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radiant
- Rappahannock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Sperryville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Rediviva
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Rediviva is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rediviva
- Woodville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Woodville is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Scrabble
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Scrabble is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
- Slate Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Slate Mills is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Mills
- Washington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Chester Gap
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chester Gap is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Gap
- Reager
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reager is located in Rappahannock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reager
- Amissville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Rockingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Plains Mill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Plains Mill is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plains Mill
- Mayland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mayland is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayland
- Timberville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lacey Spring
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lacey Spring is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey Spring
- Broadway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Daphna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Daphna is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daphna
- Elkton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cootes Store
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Cootes Store is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cootes Store
- Linville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Linville is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linville
- Melrose
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Melrose is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Cherry Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Cherry Grove is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
- Tunis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Tunis is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
- Turleytown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Turleytown is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turleytown
- Shenandoah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- New Market
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mount Jackson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Rinkerton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Rinkerton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinkerton
- Mount Clifton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Clifton is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Clifton
- Edinburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Willow Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Willow Grove is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Grove
- Calvary
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Calvary is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary
- Columbia Furnace
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Columbia Furnace is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Furnace
- Woodstock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Seven Fountains
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Seven Fountains is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Fountains
- Basye - Bryce Mountain
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jerome
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jerome is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Orkney Springs
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Warren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Overall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Overall is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overall
- Bentonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Limeton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Limeton is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Limeton
- Viscose City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Viscose City is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viscose City
- Waterlick
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Waterlick is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterlick
- Front Royal
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Royal Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Royal Village is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Village
- Riverton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Riverton is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton
- Happy Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Happy Creek is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Creek
- Reliance
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Reliance is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reliance
- Applewood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Applewood is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Applewood
- Cedarville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarville is located in Warren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Hardy County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Mathias
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lost City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Baker
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Baker is located in Hardy County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
- Wardensville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Salem, see our County-by-County Page for Salem.
Cemeteries Near Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Salem.
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 Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Longs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- St. Luke Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Leaks Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Old County Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Marshall Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Antioch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Green Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Woods Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bible Way Church of God in Christ Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (351 more) ...
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Central Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Matthews Cemetery
- The St. Matthews Cemetery has also been known as:
- Reformation Cemetery
- Reformation Lutheran Church Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #947159 <2>
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 Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Salem, with the one closest to Salem listed first.
- Leaksville
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Leaksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaksville
- Alma
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Alma is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Honeyville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Honeyville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honeyville
- Stanley
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Marksville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Marksville is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marksville
- Luray
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stony Man
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Stony Man is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Man
- New Market
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Ida
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ida is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
- Quicksburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Grove Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Grove Hill is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Hill
- Ingham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ingham is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingham
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Kimball
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kimball is located in Page County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimball
- Mount Jackson
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- New Market Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- New Market Station is located in Shenandoah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Market Station
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around Salem.
Newspapers Published in Salem ...
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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Salem.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Salem, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Salem.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Salem:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Page County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Albemarle County
- Augusta County
- Culpeper County
- Frederick County
- Greene County
- Harrisonburg City
- Madison County
- Rappahannock County
- Rockingham County
- Shenandoah County
- Warren County
- Hardy 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 Salem, 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- Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |