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 Sycamore (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 Sycamore. 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.
Sycamore is located in Pittsylvania 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 Pittsylvania County: Caswell (NC), Rockingham (NC), Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, Halifax & Henry.
Below are the counties that are near Sycamore. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sycamore:
- Pittsylvania County (The home county of Sycamore)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Brutus
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Hurt
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hurt is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurt
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,211 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hurt <1>
- Gretna
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Pittsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Chalk Level
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Renan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Renan is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renan
- Sonans
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
- Whittles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Whittles is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittles
- Whittles has also been known as:
- Whittle's Depot
- Whittle's Station
- Sheva
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sheva is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheva
- Markham
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Markham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Markham
- Transco Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Transco Village is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Transco Village
- Riceville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Riceville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riceville
- Chatham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Chatham is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,413 people
- Amherst County
- Madison Heights
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Appomattox County
- Spring Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Mills is located in Appomattox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Mills
- Bedford City
- Bedford
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bedford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Huddleston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Radford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Radford is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radford
- Davis Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Davis Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Mill
- Moneta
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa Mill is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa Mill
- Clevilas ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Clevilas is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clevilas
- Lowry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lowry is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowry
- Bellevue
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Bellevue is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Forest
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Goode
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Chamblissburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chamblissburg is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamblissburg
- Goodview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Cifax
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Cifax is located in Bedford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cifax
- Campbell County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Leesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Altavista
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lynch Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lynch Station is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynch Station
- Melrose
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Melrose is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
- Gladys
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Branch
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Yellow Branch is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Branch
- Bedford Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Bedford Springs is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford Springs
- Lawyers
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lawyers is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawyers
- Timberlake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Timberlake is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlake
- Mount Zion
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Zion is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
- Brookneal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Powhatan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Powhatan is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powhatan
- Rustburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Charlotte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Abell ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Abell is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abell
- Aspenwall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Aspenwall is located in Charlotte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aspenwall
- Danville City
- Danville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Penhook
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Laprades Mill
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Laprades Mill is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laprades Mill
- North Shore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Shore is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
- Union Hall
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Westlake Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Westlake Corner is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake Corner
- Hales Ford ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Hales Ford is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hales Ford
- Felicia ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Felicia is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felicia
- Burnt Chimney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Burnt Chimney is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Chimney
- Redwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Redwood is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Villa ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Villa is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
- Rocky Mount
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sydnorsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sydnorsville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydnorsville
- Halifax County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Cody
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Cody is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cody
- Leda
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Leda is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leda
- Sign Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sign Rock is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sign Rock
- Rodden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rodden is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodden
- Loftis
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Loftis is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loftis
- Rabat
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rabat is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabat
- Nathalie
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Crystal Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Crystal Hill is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Hill
- Elmo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Elmo is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmo
- Jones
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jones is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones
- Sutherlin
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sutherlin is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutherlin
- Banister Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Banister Town is located in Halifax County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banister Town
- Halifax
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Henry County
- Leatherwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leatherwood is located in Henry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leatherwood
- Lynchburg City
- The following are listed by their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Woodbine Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Woodbine Village is located in Lynchburg City
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Village
- Lynchburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Madison County
- Beaver Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Beaver Park is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Park
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sycamore, see our County-by-County Page for Sycamore.
Cemeteries Near Sycamore ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sycamore.
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 Sycamore - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sycamore covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Midway Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Green Lawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pines Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pines Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Pines Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Gretna.
- New Bethel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Green Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Old Bethany Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Stone Road Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Thomas Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Burch Family Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Hermon Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pullens Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (520 more) ...
- Fairview Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Bethel Church Church of the Brethren
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Independence Church Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
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 Sycamore in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sycamore.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sycamore, with the one closest to Sycamore listed first.
- Motley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Motley is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motley
- Brutus
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Brutus is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brutus
- Brights
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Brights is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brights
- Pittsville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pittsville is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsville
- Leesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Leesville is located in Campbell County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leesville
- Ray
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ray is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Hill Grove
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hill Grove is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Grove
- Galveston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Galveston is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galveston
- Glenland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Glenland is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenland
- Toshes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Toshes is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toshes
- Chalk Level
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chalk Level is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalk Level
- Level Run
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Level Run is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Run
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Pullens
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pullens is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullens
- Whittles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Whittles is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittles
- Whittles has also been known as:
- Whittle's Depot
- Whittle's Station
- Sonans
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Sonans is located in Pittsylvania County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonans
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sycamore. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sycamore.
Newspapers Published in Sycamore ...
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 16 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sycamore.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sycamore, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sycamore.
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 Sycamore:
- Websites specific to Virginia
- Pages specific to Pittsylvania County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Amherst County
- Appomattox County
- Bedford City
- Bedford County
- Campbell County
- Charlotte County
- Danville City
- Franklin County
- Halifax County
- Henry County
- Lynchburg City
- Madison 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> | 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 Sycamore, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sycamore) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |