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Home >> State of Virginia >> Albemarle County >> Solaris >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Solaris (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 Solaris. 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 doctors 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.

Solaris is located in Albemarle 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 Albemarle County: Augusta, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, Orange & Rockingham.

Below are the counties that are near Solaris. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Solaris:

  • Albemarle County     (The home county of Solaris)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Burnley
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Burnley is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnley
    • Gilbert
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Gilbert is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert
    • Advance Mills Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Advance Mills Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance Mills Village
    • Rosena
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Rosena is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosena
    • Jefferson Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jefferson Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson Village
    • Advance Mills
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Advance Mills is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance Mills
      • Advance Mills has also been known as:
      • Fray's Mills
    • Hollymead
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Hollymead is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollymead
    • Earlysville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Eastham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Eastham is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastham
    • Monacan Town ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Monacan Town is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monacan Town
    • Cobham
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Cobham is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobham
    • Logan Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Logan Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logan Village
    • Rio
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Rio is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
  • Augusta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Grottoes
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Crimora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Sampson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sampson is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sampson
    • Dooms
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Dooms is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
    • Weyers Cave
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Charlottesville City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Locust Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Locust Grove is located in Charlottesville City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
    • Belmont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Belmont is located in Charlottesville City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Charlottesville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Culpeper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Waylands Mill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Waylands Mill is located in Culpeper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waylands Mill
    • Griffinsburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Griffinsburg is located in Culpeper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffinsburg
    • Norman
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Norman is located in Culpeper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norman
    • Salem
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Salem is located in Culpeper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
    • Culpeper
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Fluvanna County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Lake Monticello
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Lake Monticello is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Monticello
    • Antioch
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Antioch is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Kents Store
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Kents Store is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kents Store
    • Nicholas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Nicholas is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholas
    • Fork Union
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Weber City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Columbia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Goochland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Tabscott
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Tabscott is located in Goochland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabscott
    • Caledonia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Caledonia is located in Goochland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
    • Hadensville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Quinque
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Quinque is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinque
    • Dawsonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Dawsonville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
    • Amicus
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Amicus is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amicus
    • Stanardsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Cedarmere ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Cedarmere is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Kinderhook
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Kinderhook is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
  • Louisa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Meltons
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Meltons is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meltons
    • Green Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Green Springs is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Springs
    • Medlock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Medlock is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medlock
    • Trevilians
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Trevilians is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trevilians
    • Bells Crossroads
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bells Crossroads is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Crossroads
    • Louisa
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Vigor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Vigor is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vigor
    • Mineral
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Pendleton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Pendleton is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendleton
    • Cuckoo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cuckoo is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuckoo
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Hood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Wolftown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Aroda
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Aroda is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aroda
    • Burnt Tree
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Burnt Tree is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Tree
    • Radiant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Radiant is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radiant
    • Madison Mills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Madison Mills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Mills
    • Madison
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Ruth
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Ruth is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
    • Syria
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Tryme
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Tryme is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryme
    • Peola Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Peola Mills is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peola Mills
  • Nelson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Durrett Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
    • Onan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Onan is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
    • Afton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Faber
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Barboursville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Gordonsville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Montpelier Station
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Madison Run
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Madison Run is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison Run
    • Orange
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Grassland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Grassland is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grassland
    • Danton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Danton is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danton
    • Rhoadesville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Vulcan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Vulcan is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vulcan
    • True Blue
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • True Blue is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True Blue
    • Burr Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Burr Hill is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burr Hill
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Verbena
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Verbena is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
    • Shenandoah
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Marksville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Marksville is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marksville
    • Stanley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Rappahannock County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Slate Mills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Slate Mills is located in Rappahannock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Mills
    • Scrabble
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Scrabble is located in Rappahannock County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scrabble
  • Rockingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Swift Run
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Swift Run is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift Run
    • Berrytown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Berrytown is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrytown
    • Elkton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Elkton is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,914 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elkton <1>
    • McGaheysville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Montevideo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Montevideo is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevideo
    • Massanutten
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Goods Mill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Goods Mill is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goods Mill
    • Cross Keys
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Keezletown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Massanetta Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Massanetta Springs is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massanetta Springs
  • Spotsylvania County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.
    • Belmont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Belmont is located in Spotsylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Holladay
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Holladay is located in Spotsylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holladay
    • Childs Cove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Childs Cove is located in Spotsylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Childs Cove
    • Paytes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Paytes is located in Spotsylvania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paytes
  • Waynesboro City
    • Waynesboro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Solaris, see our County-by-County Page for Solaris.

Cemeteries Near Solaris ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Solaris.

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 Solaris - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Solaris covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.

  • Johns Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Spring Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Free Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Goss Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Wetsel Family Graveyard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Eheart Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Benjamin Sims Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Maple Grove Christian Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Shackelford Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Thomas Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (301 more) ...
    • Knights Chapel Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Ruckersville Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Mt. Zion Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)

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 Solaris in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Solaris.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Solaris, with the one closest to Solaris listed first.

  • Gilbert
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Gilbert is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbert
  • Burnley
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Burnley is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnley
  • Eheart
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Eheart is located in Orange County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eheart
  • Barboursville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Ruckersville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Advance Mills
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Advance Mills is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance Mills
    • Advance Mills has also been known as:
    • Fray's Mills
  • Proffit
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Proffit is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proffit
  • Quinque
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Quinque is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinque
  • Rivanna
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rivanna is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivanna
  • Earlysville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Eastham
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Eastham is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastham
  • Dawsonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Dawsonville is located in Greene County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Hydraulic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hydraulic is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hydraulic
    • Rio
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Rio is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio
    • Cobham
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Cobham is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobham

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Solaris. See our List of 1890's Communities around Solaris.

Newspapers Published in Solaris ...

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 2 newspapers that have been published in the area around Solaris.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Solaris, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Solaris.

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 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 Solaris:

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 Solaris, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Solaris) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.