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 Stepping Stone (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 Stepping Stone. 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.
Stepping Stone is located in Botetourt 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 Botetourt County: Alleghany, Bedford, Craig, Roanoke & Rockbridge.
Below are the counties that are near Stepping Stone. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Stepping Stone:
- Botetourt County (The home county of Stepping Stone)
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Laymantown
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Laymantown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laymantown
- Apple Tree Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Apple Tree Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apple Tree Village
- Blue Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cloverdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Runaway Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Runaway Village is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Village
- Troutville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Daleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Amsterdam
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Fincastle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Lithia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lithia is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithia
- Haymakertown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Haymakertown is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haymakertown
- Botetourt ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Botetourt is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Botetourt
- Springwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Springwood is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwood
- Alleghany County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Rich Patch
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Rich Patch is located in Alleghany County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Patch
- Low Moor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Villamont
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Villamont is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villamont
- Montvale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Coonsville ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Coonsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coonsville
- Chamblissburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Goodview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Joppa Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Peaksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Peaksville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peaksville
- Davis Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Moneta
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Radford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Lowry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Cifax
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cifax is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cifax
- Campbell County
- Leesville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Craig County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Abbott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Abbott is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- New Castle
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Simmonsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Simmonsville is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simmonsville
- Huffman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Huffman is located in Craig County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huffman
- Floyd County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Simpsons
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Simpsons is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsons
- Terrys Fork
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Terrys Fork is located in Floyd County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrys Fork
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Burnt Chimney
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Boones Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Westlake Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Villa ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Gogginsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Gogginsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gogginsville
- North Shore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Redwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Hickman
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hickman is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
- Rocky Mount
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Union Hall
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Algoma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Algoma is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoma
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Elliston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shawsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Alleghany Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Alleghany Springs is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany Springs
- Bennetts Mill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bennetts Mill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bennetts Mill
- Montgomery
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Montgomery is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Ellett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ellett is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellett
- Mount Tabor Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Mount Tabor Village is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tabor Village
- Roanoke City
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Buena Vista
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Roanoke
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City is located in Roanoke City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Roanoke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Montgomery Village
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Montgomery Village is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery Village
- Vinton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hollins
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Hanging Rock
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Hanging Rock is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanging Rock
- Cave Spring
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cave Spring is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cave Spring
- Mason Cove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Mason Cove is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason Cove
- Catawba
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Moomaw ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Moomaw is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moomaw
- Wabun
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wabun is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabun
- Riverside
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Riverside is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Bent Mountain
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rockbridge County
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Springfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Springfield is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springfield
- Natural Bridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Red Mills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Red Mills is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Mills
- Greenlee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Greenlee is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenlee
- Longwood ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Longwood is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Fancy Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fancy Hill is located in Rockbridge County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Hill
- Glasgow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Salem City
- The following are listed by their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Sunset Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sunset Village is located in Salem City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset Village
- Salem
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Stepping Stone, see our County-by-County Page for Stepping Stone.
Cemeteries Near Stepping Stone ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Stepping Stone.
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 Stepping Stone - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Stepping Stone covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Roanoke Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Laymantown Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Blue Ridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- St. Clair Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Old Dominion Memorial Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Beth Israel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Emanuel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ruddell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mt. View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Waldron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (639 more) ...
- Lawhorn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hollins Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollins Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hollins Memorial Park is located less than 2 miles<2> to the north of Hollins.
- The Hollins Memorial Park has also been known as:
- First Baptist Church Cemetery
- Oldfields Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2221029 <3>
- Cocke Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
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.<4>
While we didn't find Stepping Stone in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Stepping Stone.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Stepping Stone, with the one closest to Stepping Stone listed first.
- Bonsack
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bonsack is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonsack
- Coyner Springs
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Coyner Springs is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coyner Springs
- Blue Ridge
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cloverdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Vinton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Troutville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Daleville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hollins
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Stewartsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stewartsville is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartsville
- Montvale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Amsterdam
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Amsterdam is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsterdam
- Nace
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Nace is located in Botetourt County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nace
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Roanoke
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Leslie
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Leslie is located in Roanoke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
- Hardy Ford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hardy Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardy Ford
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Stepping Stone. See our List of 1890's Communities around Stepping Stone.
Newspapers Published in Stepping Stone ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Stepping Stone.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Stepping Stone, there are papers which were published within 7 miles [11.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Stepping Stone.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Stepping Stone:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Botetourt County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alleghany County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Campbell County
- Craig County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Montgomery County
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Rockbridge County
- Salem City
- 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> | 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- Stepping Stone) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Stepping Stone, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |