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 South Gap (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 South Gap. 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 South Gap ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for South Gap: S. Gap
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and 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.
South Gap is located in Bland 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 Bland County: Giles, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe & Mercer (WV).
Below are the counties that are near South Gap. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Gap:
- Bland County (The home county of South Gap)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Rocky Gap
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Round Bottom
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Round Bottom is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Bottom
- Hicksville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Bastian
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mechanicsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Sheep Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sheep Town is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheep Town
- Shorts Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shorts Creek is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shorts Creek
- Sylvatus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvatus is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvatus
- Giles County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Shumate
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shumate is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shumate
- Thessalia
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Thessalia is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thessalia
- Glen Lyn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Glen Lyn is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Lyn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 97 people
- Lurich
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lurich is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lurich
- Narrows
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rich Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Poplar Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Poplar Hill is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poplar Hill
- Bluff City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bluff City is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff City
- Pearisburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Pembroke
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Eggleston
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Goodwins Ferry is located in Giles County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwins Ferry
- Pulaski County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Sassin ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sassin is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sassin
- Hilton Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Hilton Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilton Village
- Pulaski
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Wurno is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wurno
- Dublin
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Draper
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Newbern
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Parrott
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Parrott is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parrott
- Mack Creek Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mack Creek Village is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mack Creek Village
- Cowan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cowan is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowan
- Fairlawn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Fairlawn is located in Pulaski County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairlawn
- Radford City
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- New Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Radford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sunset Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sunset Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Radford Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Radford Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford Village
- Simpkins Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Simpkins Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpkins Village
- Mill Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Mill Village is located in Radford City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Village
- Smyth County
- Atkins
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tazewell County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Bluefield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Falls Mills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falls Mills
- Saint Clair
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Saint Clair is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
- Yards
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Yards is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yards
- Pocahontas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pocahontas is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pocahontas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 348 people
- Shawver Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Shawver Mill is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawver Mill
- Little Town
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Little Town is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Town
- Boissevain
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Boissevain is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boissevain
- Springville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Springville is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Abbs Valley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Abbs Valley is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbs Valley
- Wittens Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Wittens Mills is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wittens Mills
- Five Oaks
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Five Oaks is located in Tazewell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Oaks
- Wythe County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Kent
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Kent is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Wytheville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Max Meadows
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Chiswell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Chiswell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Chiswell
- Locust Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Locust Hill is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Hill
- Siloam
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Siloam is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Crockett
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Rural Retreat
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rowe Crossroads
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Rowe Crossroads is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowe Crossroads
- Ivanhoe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Austinville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Speedwell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Speedwell is located in Wythe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Speedwell
- Logan County (WV)
- Rich Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Rich Creek is located in Logan County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Creek
- McDowell County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Anawalt
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Anawalt is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anawalt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 172 people
- Elkhorn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elkhorn is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkhorn
- Kyle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kyle is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kyle
- Keystone
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Northfork
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Thorpe
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Thorpe is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thorpe
- Bishop
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Bishop is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Big Four
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Big Four is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Four
- Kimball
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gary
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Gary is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
- Population from the 2020 Census: 759 people
- Newhall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Newhall is located in McDowell County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
- Mercer County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Blake ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Blake is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blake
- El Centro ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- El Centro is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Centro
- East River ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East River is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- Edison
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Edison is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
- Bluefield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Johnston Town
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Johnston Town is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnston Town
- Princeton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Oakvale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Oakvale is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakvale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 109 people
- Littlesburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Littlesburg is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlesburg
- Oak Grove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Flipping
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Flipping is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flipping
- Monroe County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Peterstown
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ballard is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballard
- Assurance
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Assurance is located in Monroe County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Assurance
- Raleigh County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Rhodell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rhodell is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodell
- Population from the 2020 Census: 159 people
- Eastgulf
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Eastgulf is located in Raleigh County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastgulf
- Summers County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Mercers Saltworks ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mercers Saltworks is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercers Saltworks
- Pipestem
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- True
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- True is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for True
- Forest Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Nimitz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Nimitz is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimitz
- Packs Ferry
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Packs Ferry is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Packs Ferry
- Buck
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buck is located in Summers County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buck
- Wyoming County (WV)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Bud
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bud is located in Wyoming County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bud
- Mullens
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Gap, see our County-by-County Page for South Gap.
Cemeteries Near South Gap ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Gap.
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 South Gap - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Gap covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Tuggle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pruett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Shrader Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gibson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Comfort Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sword Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bivins Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clark Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shields Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tynes & Ferguson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (406 more) ...
- Wilson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Atkins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hartwell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<2>
While we didn't find South Gap in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of South Gap.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Gap, with the one closest to South Gap listed first.
- Rocky Gap
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rocky Gap is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Gap
- Byron
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Byron is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
- Hicksville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hicksville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicksville
- Kimberling
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kimberling is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimberling
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bethel is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Clear Fork
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Clear Fork is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Fork
- Ada
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ada is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ada
- Point Pleasant
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Point Pleasant is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point Pleasant
- Holly Brook
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Holly Brook is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Brook
- East River ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East River is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East River
- Ingleside
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Ingleside is located in Mercer County (WV)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- Stowersville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Stowersville is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stowersville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Bluefield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Grapefield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Grapefield is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapefield
- Mechanicsburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mechanicsburg is located in Bland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mechanicsburg
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Gap. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Gap.
Newspapers Published in South Gap ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Gap.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Gap, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for South Gap.
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 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 South Gap:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Bland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Giles County
- Pulaski County
- Radford City
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Wythe County
- Logan County
- McDowell County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Raleigh County
- Summers County
- Wyoming 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 South Gap, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- South Gap) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |