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 Smithfield (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 Smithfield. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Smithfield is located in Isle of Wight 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 Isle of Wight County: Franklin, Southampton, Suffolk City & Surry.
Below are the counties that are near Smithfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smithfield:
- Isle of Wight County (The home county of Smithfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Rescue
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rescue is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rescue
- Magnet
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Magnet is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Rushmere
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rushmere is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushmere
- Raynor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Raynor is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raynor
- Windsor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Zuni
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Zuni is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zuni
- Walters
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Walters is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walters
- Carrsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carrsville is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrsville
- Chesapeake City
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Charlton Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Charlton Village is located in Chesapeake City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlton Village
- Chesapeake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Franklin City
- Franklin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gloucester County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Gloucester Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Crab
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Crab is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crab
- Country Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Country Village is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Village
- Achilles
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Achilles is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Achilles
- Ordinary
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rowes Haven
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Rowes Haven is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Haven
- Clay Bank
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Clay Bank is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay Bank
- White Marsh
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- York View
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- York View is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York View
- Roanes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Roanes is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roanes
- Belroi
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Belroi is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belroi
- Money
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Money is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money
- Gloucester Courthouse
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Gloucester Courthouse is located in Gloucester County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gloucester Courthouse
- Hampton City
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Greenwood Farms
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Greenwood Farms is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Farms
- Aberdeen Gardens
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Aberdeen Gardens is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aberdeen Gardens
- Newgate Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Newgate Village is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newgate Village
- Chapel Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Chapel Village is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapel Village
- Pine Chapel Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Pine Chapel Village is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Chapel Village
- Hampton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Phoebus
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Phoebus is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phoebus
- Buckroe Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Buckroe Beach is located in Hampton City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckroe Beach
- James City County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Jamestown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Norge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Newport News City
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Hilton Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hilton Village is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Bernard Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bernard Village is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bernard Village
- Newport News
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Red Hill Village is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Hill Village
- Lee Hall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lee Hall is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lee Hall
- Norfolk City
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Glenwood Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Glenwood Park is located in Norfolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood Park
- Sussex
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sussex is located in Norfolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sussex
- Monticello Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Monticello Village is located in Norfolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello Village
- Alantic City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alantic City is located in Norfolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alantic City
- Norfolk
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- New Town ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- New Town is located in Norfolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Poquoson City
- Poquoson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Portsmouth City
- Portsmouth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Prince George County
- Burrowsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Burrowsville is located in Prince George County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrowsville
- Southampton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Ivor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Doles Crossroads
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Doles Crossroads is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doles Crossroads
- Burdette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Burdette is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
- Berlin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Berlin is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berlin
- Black Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Black Creek is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
- Sedley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sedley is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sedley
- Edgehill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Edgehill is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgehill
- Hunterdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hunterdale is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunterdale
- Cypress Manor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cypress Manor is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Manor
- Isaac
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Isaac is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isaac
- Kingsdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kingsdale is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsdale
- Watkins Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Watkins Corner is located in Southampton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watkins Corner
- Courtland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Suffolk City
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Chuckatuck
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Chuckatuck is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chuckatuck
- Ames Cove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ames Cove is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ames Cove
- Bennett Harbor
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bennett Harbor is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennett Harbor
- Driver
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Driver is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Driver
- Wilroy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wilroy is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilroy
- Shoulders Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Shoulders Hill is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoulders Hill
- Kilby
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Kilby is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilby
- Suffolk
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Manning
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Manning is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manning
- Russell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Russell is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell
- Holland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Holland is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holland
- Oak Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Whaley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Whaley is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whaley
- Surry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Itata
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Itata is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Itata
- Beachland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Beachland is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beachland
- Homewood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Homewood is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
- Surry
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Scotland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Scotland is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Dendron
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Spring Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Spring Grove is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Carsley
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Carsley is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carsley
- Claremont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Claremont is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Sussex County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Wakefield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Waverly
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Virginia Beach City
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Burtons
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Burtons is located in Virginia Beach City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burtons
- Westview Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Westview Village is located in Virginia Beach City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westview Village
- Aragona Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Aragona Village is located in Virginia Beach City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aragona Village
- Kempsville Gardens
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Kempsville Gardens is located in Virginia Beach City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kempsville Gardens
- Pocahontas Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Pocahontas Village is located in Virginia Beach City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas Village
- Thalia Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Thalia Village is located in Virginia Beach City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thalia Village
- Williamsburg City
- Williamsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Yorkville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yorkville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Rochambeau Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Rochambeau Village is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochambeau Village
- Dare
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dare is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dare
- Charles Corner
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Charles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charles Corner
- Lackey
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lackey is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lackey
- Yorktown
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Oaktree
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Oaktree is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaktree
- Barlows Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Barlows Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlows Corner
- Gates County (NC)
- Corapeake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smithfield, see our County-by-County Page for Smithfield.
Cemeteries Near Smithfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smithfield.
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 Smithfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smithfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- St. Lukes Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Battery Park Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bethany Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Christian Home Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Morrison Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Warwick River Mennonite Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Grove Memorial Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jones Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ames Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Maney Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (183 more) ...
- Peninsula Memorial Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mill Swamp Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Smithfield had a population of 891 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Smithfield had a population of 8,615 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smithfield, with the one closest to Smithfield listed first.
- Carrollton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rescue
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Rescue is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rescue
- Magnet
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Magnet is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnet
- Longview
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Longview is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Septa
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Septa is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Septa
- Comet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Comet is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet
- Chuckatuck
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Chuckatuck is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chuckatuck
- Raynor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Raynor is located in Isle of Wight County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raynor
- Everets
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Everets is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everets
- Menchville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Menchville is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menchville
- Morrison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Morrison is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison
- Newport News
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Itata
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Itata is located in Surry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Itata
- Denbigh
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Denbigh is located in Newport News City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denbigh
- Driver
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Driver is located in Suffolk City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Driver
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smithfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smithfield.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Smithfield ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smithfield.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Smithfield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Smithfield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Smithfield.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> of Smithfield.
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 Smithfield:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Isle of Wight County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chesapeake City
- Franklin City
- Gloucester County
- Hampton City
- James City County
- Newport News City
- Norfolk City
- Poquoson City
- Portsmouth City
- Prince George County
- Southampton County
- Suffolk City
- Surry County
- Sussex County
- Virginia Beach City
- Williamsburg City
- York County
- Gates 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 Smithfield, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Smithfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |