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 Smiths Crossroads (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 Smiths Crossroads. 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.
Name Variations for Smiths Crossroads ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
- A typical abbreviation for Smiths Crossroads: Smiths Xrds.
- While the name of this community is Smiths Crossroads, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Smiths Crossroads may originally have been Smith's Crossroads.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Smiths Crossroads might be written as Smith Crossroads.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Smiths Crossroads. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Smiths Crossroads.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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 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.
Smiths Crossroads is located in Powhatan 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 Powhatan County: Amelia, Chesterfield, Cumberland & Goochland.
Below are the counties that are near Smiths Crossroads. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Smiths Crossroads:
- Powhatan County (The home county of Smiths Crossroads)
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Belona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Belona is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belona
- Beaumont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Beaumont is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaumont
- Michaux
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Michaux is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michaux
- Dorset
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dorset is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorset
- Pilkinton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pilkinton is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pilkinton
- Huguenot
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Huguenot is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huguenot
- Amelia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Lodore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lodore is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodore
- Masons Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Masons Corner is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Masons Corner
- Paineville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Paineville is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paineville
- Amelia Court House
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Rodophil
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Rodophil is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodophil
- Earls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Earls is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Earls
- Ammon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ammon is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ammon
- Buckingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- New Canton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- New Canton is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Canton
- Arvonia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Gravel Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Gravel Hill is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravel Hill
- Bridgeport
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgeport is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Gold Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Gold Hill is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
- Dillwyn
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Curdsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Curdsville is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curdsville
- Sheppards
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sheppards is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheppards
- Enonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Enonville is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enonville
- Buckingham
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Centenary
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Centenary is located in Buckingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centenary
- Chesterfield County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Otterdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Otterdale is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otterdale
- Midlothian
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Coalboro ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Coalboro is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coalboro
- Robious
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Robious is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robious
- Winterpock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Winterpock is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winterpock
- Bon Air
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Chesterfield Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chesterfield Village is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterfield Village
- Holly ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Holly is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
- Fendley ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fendley is located in Chesterfield County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fendley
- Chesterfield Court House
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Clinton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Clinton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Lakeside Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeside Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Village
- Trenton Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Trenton Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton Mills
- Cumberland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Trents Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Trents Mill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trents Mill
- Cotton Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cotton Town is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Town
- Guinea Mills
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Guinea Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guinea Mills
- Dinwiddie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Hebron
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Hebron is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Wilsons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Wilsons is located in Dinwiddie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsons
- Fluvanna County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Columbia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Fork Union
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Weber City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Kents Store
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kents Store is located in Fluvanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kents Store
- Nicholas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Nicholas is located in Fluvanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholas
- Antioch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Antioch is located in Fluvanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Lake Monticello
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Monticello is located in Fluvanna County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Monticello
- Goochland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Goochland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Maidens
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thorncliff
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thorncliff is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorncliff
- Fife
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Enon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Enon is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
- Sandy Hook
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sandy Hook is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Hook
- Oilville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hadensville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Caledonia
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Tabscott
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Tabscott is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabscott
- Hanover County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Vontay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Vontay is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vontay
- Rockville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hylas
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hylas is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hylas
- Casco
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Casco is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casco
- Goodall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Goodall is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodall
- Montpelier
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gwathmey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Gwathmey is located in Hanover County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwathmey
- Henrico County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Lorraine
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Lorraine is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorraine
- Tuckahoe Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Tuckahoe Village is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuckahoe Village
- Short Pump
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Wyndham
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Wyndham is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyndham
- Tuckahoe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Laurel Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Laurel Village is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel Village
- Dumbarton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Dumbarton is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumbarton
- Glen Allen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Laurel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Laurel is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Hunton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hunton is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunton
- Lakeside
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lakeside is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Quail Walk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Quail Walk is located in Henrico County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Walk
- Louisa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Shelfar
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Shelfar is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelfar
- Willowbrook
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Willowbrook is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willowbrook
- Gays ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gays is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gays
- Jackson
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Vigor
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Vigor is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vigor
- Bells Crossroads
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Bells Crossroads is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Crossroads
- Cuckoo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cuckoo is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuckoo
- Mineral
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pendleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pendleton is located in Louisa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton
- Nottoway County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Spainville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Spainville is located in Nottoway County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spainville
- Crewe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Burkeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Prince Edward County
- Farmville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Richmond County
- The following are listed by their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Chippenham Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Chippenham Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippenham Village
- Cherry Gardens
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cherry Gardens is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Gardens
- Walmsley Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Walmsley Village is located in Richmond County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walmsley Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Smiths Crossroads, see our County-by-County Page for Smiths Crossroads.
Cemeteries Near Smiths Crossroads ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smiths Crossroads.
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 Smiths Crossroads - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Smiths Crossroads covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Petersville Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Belmead Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Taylor Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cartersville Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cochran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Thomas Chapel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Flower Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Piedmont Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Harrison Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (189 more) ...
- Meador Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
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 Smiths Crossroads in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Smiths Crossroads.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Smiths Crossroads, with the one closest to Smiths Crossroads listed first.
- Belona
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Belona is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belona
- Trenholm
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Trenholm is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenholm
- Macon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Macon is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Ballsville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Ballsville is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballsville
- Jefferson ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jefferson is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- West View
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- West View is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West View
- Clinton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Clinton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Stokes ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Stokes is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stokes
- Three Square
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Three Square is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Square
- Tobaccoville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tobaccoville is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobaccoville
- Lodore
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Lodore is located in Amelia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodore
- Pemberton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pemberton is located in Goochland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pemberton
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Michaux
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Michaux is located in Powhatan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michaux
- Bush Park ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Bush Park is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bush Park
- Ashby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ashby is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashby
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Smiths Crossroads. See our List of 1890's Communities around Smiths Crossroads.
Newspapers Published in Smiths Crossroads ...
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 9 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smiths Crossroads.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smiths Crossroads, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smiths Crossroads.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Smiths Crossroads:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Powhatan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amelia County
- Buckingham County
- Chesterfield County
- Cumberland County
- Dinwiddie County
- Fluvanna County
- Goochland County
- Hanover County
- Henrico County
- Louisa County
- Nottoway County
- Prince Edward County
- Richmond County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Virginia
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Smiths Crossroads, 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- Smiths Crossroads) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |