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Highland County, Virginia Genealogy

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Guide to Highland County, Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Monterey
Organized: 01 May 1847[1]
Parent County(s): Bath, Pendleton (WV)
Neighboring Counties
Augusta • Bath • Pendleton (WV) • Pocahontas (WV)
See County Maps
Courthouse
VirginiaHighlandCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
Location of Highland County, Virginia.PNG

County Information

Description

Highland County is located in the western portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and shares a border with West Virginia. It is often referred to as "Virginia's Switzerland"; the county received its name from its prevailing high altitude.[2]

County Courthouse

Highland County Courthouse
165 W. Main Street
PO Box 190
Monterey, VA 24465-0190
Phone 540-468-2447
Highland County Website

Clerk Circuit Court has birth records from 1850-1898, marriage, divorce and land records from 1850, probate records from 1860 and court records from 1837[3]

Highland County, Virginia Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1850 1850 1853 1937 1850 1860 1810
* Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1912.
General compliance year is unknown.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

  • Lost census: 1890

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

Boundary Changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]

Towns
Unincorporated communities


History Timeline

The county takes its name from its elevation in the Appalachian Mountains.

Resources

Bible Records

For databases and indexes, see Virginia Bible Records.

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Highland County, Virginia online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Virginia Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

For databases, indexes, and information online, see Virginia Census.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1850 4,227 —
1860 4,319 2.2%
1870 4,151 −3.9%
1880 5,164 24.4%
1890 5,352 3.6%
1900 5,647 5.5%
1910 5,317 −5.8%
1920 4,931 −7.3%
1930 4,525 −8.2%
1940 4,875 7.7%
1950 4,069 −16.5%
1960 3,221 −20.8%
1970 2,529 −21.5%
1980 2,937 16.1%
1990 2,635 −10.3%
2000 2,536 −3.8%
2010 2,321 −8.5%
Source: "Wikipedia.org"

1890 Union Veterans

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records
Library of Virginia's Virginia Memory: Chancery Record Index can be used to search digital images of Highland County chancery records for the years 1848-1912.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Compiled Genealogies by Surname

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

For land indexes, records, and databases, see Virginia Land and Property, including Colonial and State Land Grants.

Online Land Indexes and Records


An early settlers map is available for Highland County. Cambelt plots the locations of pioneers' farms. The FamilySearch Library has a copy: FS Library Map 975.589 E7c (2 parts).


Local Histories

  • Morton, Oren Frederic. A Handbook of Highland County and a Supplement to Pendleton and Highland History. Monterey, Va.: Highland Recorder, 1922. FS Catalog Collection; digital version at Ancestry ($).
  • Morton, Oren Frederic. A History of Highland County, Virginia. Monterey, Va.: Morton, c1911. Original edition: FS Catalog Collection; 1979 reprint with index: FS Catalog Collection; digital versions of original edition at Ancestry ($); and archive.org.

Maps and Gazetteers

County and state maps, historical and more current, are valuable research tools. For map collections, online and in libraries, see Virginia Maps.

Augusta CountyBath CountyPocahontas CountyPendleton CountyVA HIGHLAND.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Military Records

War of 1812


Civil War

Regiments. Civil War service men in Highland County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:

- 14th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company A (White's Mounted Riflemen), Company C (Valley Cavalry or Rangers).[8]
- 18th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G.[9]
- 25th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Heck's) (Confederate). Company D (Highland Rangers).[10]
- 26th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company E.[11]
- 31st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Future 2nd Company B (The Highlanders) and Company E (Highland County Highlanders).[12]
- 62nd Regiment, Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederate). Company A (Valley Rifles).[13]

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battle was fought in Highland County.[14]

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

For online newspaper resources, see the Virginia Newspapers page.

Obituaries

Other Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

For statewide probate records, indexes, and databases, see Virginia Probate Records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records


School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

For additional online collections and the value and use of Virginia's tax lists in your research, see Virginia Taxation.

Vital Records

For additional indexes, databases, and details, see Virginia Vital Records.

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Highland County. For state-wide facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Highland County. For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.

Museums

Societies

Listed below are societies in Highland County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Virginia Societies.

Highland Historical Society
161 Mansion House Rd
P O Box 63
McDowell, VA 24458
Telephone: (540) 396-4478
Email: highlandhist@mgwnet.com
Website
Facebook

Websites

  • FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Newberry
  2. ↑ http://www.highlandcova.org/aboutus.html
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Newberry
  6. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Highland _ County,_Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_County,_Virginia#Communities accessed 20 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Robert J. Driver, 14th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, c1988). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 47.
  9. ↑ Roger U. Delauter, 18th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1985). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 18.
  10. ↑ Richard L. Armstrong, 25th Virginia Infantry and 9th Battalion Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1990). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 71.
  11. ↑ Richard L. Armstrong, 26th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1994). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 110.
  12. ↑ John M. Ashcraft, 31st Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1988). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 48.
  13. ↑ Roger U. Delauter, 62nd Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1988). FS Library Book 975.5 M2vr v. 41.
  14. ↑ National Park Service, Civil War Battles. Filter by state or battle name.
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