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 Selma (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 Selma. 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 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.
Selma is located in Alleghany 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 Alleghany County: Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Rockbridge, Greenbrier (WV) & Monroe (WV).
Below are the counties that are near Selma. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Selma:
- Alleghany County (The home county of Selma)
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Clifton Forge
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Low Moor
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Iron Gate
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Rich Patch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Griffith
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Griffith is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Moss Run
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Moss Run is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss Run
- Bath County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Carloover
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Carloover is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carloover
- Healing Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Greenwood ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Greenwood is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Mitchelltown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Mitchelltown is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchelltown
- Cowardin ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Cowardin is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowardin
- Warm Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Millboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bath Alum
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Bath Alum is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bath Alum
- Mountain Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mountain Grove is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Grove
- Yost
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Yost is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yost
- Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fort Lewis is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
- Burnsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Burnsville is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnsville
- Bolar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Bolar is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolar
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Villamont
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Villamont is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villamont
- Montvale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Botetourt County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Glen Wilton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
- Haden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Haden is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
- Gala
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gala is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
- Strom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Strom is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strom
- Salisbury
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Salisbury is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
- Salt Petre Cave
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Salt Petre Cave is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salt Petre Cave
- Salt Petre Cave has also been known as:
- Salt Peter Cave
- Saltpetre
- Oriskany
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Springwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Springwood is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwood
- Rocky Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Point is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Point
- Botetourt ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Botetourt is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botetourt
- Fincastle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Buchanan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lithia
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lithia is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithia
- Buena Vista City
- Buena Vista
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Covington City
- Covington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- New Castle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Abbott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Abbott is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Lexington City
- Lexington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Longwood ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Springfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Springfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Kerrs Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Kerrs Creek is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerrs Creek
- Red Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Red Mills is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mills
- Zollman ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Zollman is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zollman
- Fancy Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
- Natural Bridge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Goshen
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Lexington
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- East Lexington is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Lexington
- Greenlee
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Greenlee is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Buffalo Forge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Buffalo Forge is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Forge
- Glasgow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Riverside is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Greenbrier County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Neola
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Neola is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neola
- Wild Meadow
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Wild Meadow is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wild Meadow
- Tuckahoe
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Tuckahoe is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe
- White Sulphur Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Anthony
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Anthony is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthony
- Brink ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Brink is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brink
- Caldwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Spring Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Spring Creek is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Creek
- Falling Spring
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Falling Spring is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falling Spring
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Frankford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Frankford is located in Greenbrier County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankford
- Pocahontas County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Huntersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Watoga ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Watoga is located in Pocahontas County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watoga
- Buckeye
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Selma, see our County-by-County Page for Selma.
Cemeteries Near Selma ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Selma.
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 Selma - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Selma covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Oakland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Crown Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sunrise Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Alleghany Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Walton Memorial Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Haden Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Central Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mallow Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (130 more) ...
- Hooks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Deisher Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Galatia Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Selma had a population of 8 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Selma, with the one closest to Selma listed first.
- Low Moor
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Clifton Forge
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Glen Wilton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Glen Wilton is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Wilton
- Iron Gate
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Iron Gate is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron Gate
- Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
- Longdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Longdale is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longdale
- Rich Patch
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Haden
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Haden is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haden
- Mallow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mallow is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mallow
- Griffith
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Griffith is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Strom
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Strom is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strom
- Gala
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gala is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gala
- Copeland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Copeland is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copeland
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Bessemer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bessemer is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bessemer
- Healing Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Healing Springs is located in Bath County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healing Springs
- Eagle Rock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Selma. See our List of 1890's Communities around Selma.
Newspapers Published in Selma ...
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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Selma.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Selma, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Selma.
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 Selma:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Alleghany County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bath County
- Bedford County
- Botetourt County
- Buena Vista City
- Covington City
- Craig County
- Lexington City
- Rockbridge County
- Greenbrier County
- Pocahontas 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 Selma, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Selma) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |