Highland County, Virginia Genealogy

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

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.

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

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:

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

Bible Records

 * 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Cemeteries

 * The Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library (Indiana) has a number of searchable databases of Highland County cemeteries:
 * 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * • Clover Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery • Doe Hill Cemetery
 * • Headwaters Community Cemetery • McDowell Community Cemetery
 * • McKendree Methodist Cemetery • Old McDowell Presbyterian Cemetery

Census Records
1890 Union Veterans
 * Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. By Ronald Ray Turner. .  Includes residents of this county.
 * 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census. Online at: Ancestry ($). Includes this county.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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.

Funeral Homes

 * 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Genealogies
Compiled Genealogies by Surname
 * See Highland County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of published books and articles.

Land and Property Records
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:.

Local Histories

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

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1848 Householders in 1848, as located on the map of the County Surveyor at VAGenWeb
 * FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
War of 1812 Civil War
 * Highland County, Virginia Soldiers in the War of 1812
 * List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. ; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, Virginia, Highland County, p. 86. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)

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).
 * - 18th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G.
 * - 25th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Heck's) (Confederate). Company D (Highland Rangers).
 * - 26th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company E.
 * - 31st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Future 2nd Company B (The Highlanders) and Company E (Highland County Highlanders).
 * - 62nd Regiment, Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederate). Company A (Valley Rifles).

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battle was fought in Highland County:
 * May 8, 1862 = McDowell, also known as Sitlington’s Hill
 * Maps of Civil War battles in Virginia: 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

Newspapers

 * 1893-1910 Highland Recorder at Chronicling America - free.

Probate Records

 * 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Birth

 * 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1853-1896 Fridley, Beth, comp. Highland County Virginia Birth Records, 1853-1896 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($) — index $
 * 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Death

 * 1853-1911 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection;  index & images
 * 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — index & images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Franklin West Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * Harrisonburg Virginia FamilySearch Center


 * Rocktown History - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Highland Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.
 * Cyndi's List


 * – 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

 * Hamilton, Clay. "Genealogical Research in Highland County," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 29, No. 3 (June 2003):1-2. ; digital version at Virginia Genealogical Society website.