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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 Thurston (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 Thurston. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Thurston 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 Thurston. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Thurston:

  • Albemarle County     (The home county of Thurston)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Crozet
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Foothill Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Foothill Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foothill Village
    • White Hall
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • White Hall is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Yancey Mills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
    • Decca ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Decca is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decca
    • Ivy
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Mountfair
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Mountfair is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountfair
    • Batesville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Ednam Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Ednam Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ednam Village
    • Free Union
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Barracks
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Barracks is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barracks
    • Huntington Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Huntington Village is located in Albemarle County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntington Village
  • Augusta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Crimora
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Dooms
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Dooms is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
    • Sampson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sampson is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sampson
    • Grottoes
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lyndhurst
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Sherando
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Sherando is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherando
    • Fishersville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Lipscomb
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Lipscomb is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lipscomb
    • Brand
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Brand is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brand
    • Verona
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Weyers Cave
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Stuarts Draft
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Buckingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Axtell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Axtell is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Axtell
    • Centenary
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Centenary is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centenary
    • Manteo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Manteo is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manteo
    • Glenmore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Glenmore is located in Buckingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenmore
  • Charlottesville City
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Belmont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Belmont is located in Charlottesville City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmont
    • Charlottesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Locust Grove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Locust Grove is located in Charlottesville City
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locust Grove
  • Fluvanna County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Antioch
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Antioch is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
    • Lake Monticello
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Monticello is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Monticello
    • Nicholas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Nicholas is located in Fluvanna County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholas
  • Greene County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Cedarmere ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedarmere is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarmere
    • Amicus
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Amicus is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amicus
    • Quinque
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Quinque is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinque
    • Stanardsville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Dawsonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Dawsonville is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dawsonville
    • Kinderhook
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Kinderhook is located in Greene County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinderhook
  • Harrisonburg City
    • Harrisonburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • Louisa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Medlock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Medlock is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medlock
    • Meltons
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Meltons is located in Louisa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meltons
  • Madison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Hood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Wolftown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Ruth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ruth is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruth
    • Aroda
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Aroda is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aroda
    • Radiant
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Radiant is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Radiant
  • Nelson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Afton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Durrett Town
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Durrett Town is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durrett Town
    • Onan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Onan is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
    • Greenfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenfield is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Lodebar
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lodebar is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodebar
    • Adial
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Adial is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adial
    • Nellysford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Faber
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Rockfish
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Rockfish is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockfish
    • Schuyler
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Old Myndus
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Myndus is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Myndus
    • Bryant
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bryant is located in Nelson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryant
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Barboursville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Gordonsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Montpelier Station
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Page County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Verbena
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Verbena is located in Page County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verbena
    • Shenandoah
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Rockingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Thurston, with the one closest to Thurston listed first.
    • Goods Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Goods Mill is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goods Mill
    • Berrytown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Berrytown is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berrytown
    • McGaheysville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Montevideo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Montevideo is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevideo
    • Swift Run
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Swift Run is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swift Run
    • Cross Keys
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Elkton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Massanutten
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • North River
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • North River is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North River
    • Keezletown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Massanetta Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Massanetta Springs is located in Rockingham County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Massanetta Springs
    • Mount Crawford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
  • Staunton City
    • Staunton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
  • Waynesboro City
    • Waynesboro
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Thurston ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Thurston.

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

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

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

  • Rockgate Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockgate Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Rockgate Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the south of Crozet.
    • The Rockgate Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Rock Gate Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #51909 <3>
  • Hillsboro Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Salem Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Plains Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    • The Mt. Moriah Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Mt. Moriah Methodist Church Cemetery
    • Mt. Moriah UMC Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #51282 <3>
  • Sandridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • St. John the Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Emmanuel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Pauls Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Tate Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (346 more) ...
    • Lebanon Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wild Rose Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Oak Union Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)

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

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

  • Crozet
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Yancey Mills
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Yancey Mills is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yancey Mills
  • Greenwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Doylesville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Doylesville is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doylesville
  • Ivy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Millington
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Millington is located in Albemarle County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millington
  • Batesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Afton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Free Union
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Avon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Avon is located in Nelson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
  • Onan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Onan is located in Nelson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onan
  • Dooms
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Dooms is located in Augusta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dooms
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • North Garden
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Sampson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sampson is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sampson
    • Madrid
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Madrid is located in Augusta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrid

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

Newspapers Published in Thurston ...

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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Thurston.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Thurston, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Thurston.

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 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 Thurston:

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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Thurston) 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 Thurston, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.