Virginia has long played a prominent role in American history. The first permanent English settlement in the New World was established in Virginia in 1607 (Jamestown), Virginia was one of the original 13 states that formed the United States, four of the nation’s first five presidents came from Virginia (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe), and the state’s current capital was once capital of the Confederate States of America (Richmond).
If you are researching your family roots in Virginia, you will want to use GenealogyBank’s online VA newspaper archives: 147 titles to help you search your family history in the “Old Dominion,” providing news coverage, family stories and vital statistics from 1736 to Today. There are currently more than 54 million newspaper articles and records in our online Virginia archives!
Dig deep into our archives and search for historical and recent obituaries and other news articles about your Virginia ancestors in these recent and historical VA newspapers online. Our Virginia newspapers are divided into two collections: Historical Newspapers (complete paper) and Recent Obituaries (obituaries only).
Search Virginia Newspaper Archives (1736 – 1986)
Search Virginia Recent Obituaries (1985 – Current)
Here is a list of online Virginia newspapers in the archives. Each newspaper title in this list is an active link that will take you directly to that paper’s search page, where you can begin searching for your ancestors by surnames, dates, keywords and more. The VA newspaper titles are listed alphabetically by city.
| City | Title | Date Range* | Collection |
| Abingdon | Washington County News | 2/1/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Alexandria | Alexandria Gazette | 7/11/1808 – 12/30/1876 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Alexandria Herald | 6/3/1811 – 6/29/1825 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Alexandria Daily Advertiser | 12/8/1800 – 7/9/1808 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Times; and District of Columbia Daily Advertiser | 4/10/1797 – 7/31/1802 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Alexandria Expositor | 11/26/1802 – 6/1/1807 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Virginia Journal and Alexandria Advertiser | 2/12/1784 – 5/21/1789 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Alexandria Expositor for the Country | 12/1/1803 – 3/4/1805 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Columbian Mirror and Alexandria Gazette | 12/5/1792 – 12/6/1800 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Columbian Advertiser and Commercial, Mechanic, and Agricultural Gazette | 8/2/1802 – 11/22/1802 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Virginia Gazette and Alexandria Advertiser | 9/3/1789 – 8/1/1793 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | People’s Advocate | 4/11/1876 – 9/9/1876 | Newspaper Archives |
| Alexandria | Vienna-Oakton Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Alexandria | Mount Vernon Gazette | 2/13/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Alexandria | Alexandria Gazette Packet | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Alexandria | Centre View | 2/21/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Altavista | Altavista Journal | 10/8/2003 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Amherst | Nelson County Times | 3/19/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Amherst | Amherst New Era Progress | 3/10/2010 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Appomattox | Times-Virginian | 10/8/2003 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Arlington | Arlington Catholic Herald | 9/28/2006 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Arlington | Arlington Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Ashburn Farm, Ashburn Village, Landsdown, Bluemont | Ashburn Connection | 2/26/2002 – 5/21/2009 | Recent Obituaries |
| Bedford | Bedford Bulletin | 11/25/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Boydton | Midland Express | 3/3/1893 – 3/3/1893 | Newspaper Archives |
| Bristol | Bristol Herald Courier | 12/27/2007 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Broadway | North Fork Journal | 6/27/2007 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Brookneal | Union Star | 10/2/2003 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Burke | Burke Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Cascades, Countryside, Potomac Falls, Sterling | Cascades Connection | 3/26/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Charlottesville | Jeffersonian Republican | 4/19/1855 – 12/22/1880 | Newspaper Archives |
| Charlottesville | Daily Progress | 4/17/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Chase City | News-Progress | 2/23/2012 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Chatham | Star-Tribune | 10/2/2003 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Culpeper | Culpeper Star-Exponent | 1/26/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Danville | Danville Register & Bee | 1/29/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Dayton | Shenandoah Journal | 11/13/2007 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Dumfries | Virginia Gazette and Agricultural Repository | 10/13/1791 – 12/19/1793 | Newspaper Archives |
| Elkton | Valley Banner | 6/28/2010 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Emporia | Independent-Messenger | 7/8/2003 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Fairfax | Fairfax Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Fairfax Station, Clifton | Fairfax Station-Clifton Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Fincastle | Fincastle Mirror | 7/11/1823 – 2/18/1825 | Newspaper Archives |
| Fincastle | Herald of the Valley | 9/17/1821 – 7/4/1823 | Newspaper Archives |
| Fincastle | Fincastle Weekly Advertiser | 5/8/1801 – 7/10/1801 | Newspaper Archives |
| Fincastle | Herald of Virginia and Fincastle Weekly Advertiser | 12/5/1800 – 12/5/1800 | Newspaper Archives |
| Floyd | Floyd Press | 7/19/2007 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Franklin | Tidewater News | 10/3/2014 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Fredericksburg | Virginia Herald | 9/6/1787 – 11/25/1829 | Newspaper Archives |
| Fredericksburg | Virginia Express | 11/17/1803 – 7/12/1804 | Newspaper Archives |
| Fredericksburg | Free Lance-Star | 1/1/2004 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Front Royal | Warren Sentinel | 9/17/2009 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Galax | Galax Gazette | 11/18/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Goochland | Goochland Gazette | 6/4/2009 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Great Falls | Great Falls Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Harrisonburg | Northern Augusta Journal | 11/20/2007 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Harrisonburg | Daily News-Record | 6/10/1993 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Herndon | Herndon Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Hillsville | Carroll News | 4/30/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Independence | Declaration | 1/24/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| King George | Journal Press | 5/20/2009 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Laurel Hill | Laurel Hill Connection | 2/26/2002 – 6/10/2009 | Recent Obituaries |
| Lawrenceville | Brunswick Times-Gazette | 7/8/2003 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Leesburg | Genius of Liberty | 1/11/1817 – 12/26/1820 | Newspaper Archives |
| Leesburg | Washingtonian | 2/6/1810 – 7/16/1811 | Newspaper Archives |
| Leesburg | True American | 12/30/1800 – 12/30/1800 | Newspaper Archives |
| Leesburg | Leesburg Today | 8/29/2006 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Lexington | Virginia Telegraphe | 1/10/1804 – 2/3/1808 | Newspaper Archives |
| Lexington | Rockbridge Repository | 8/21/1801 – 8/6/1805 | Newspaper Archives |
| Lexington | News-Gazette | 12/10/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Luray | Page News and Courier | 1/13/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Lynchburg | Lynchburg Press | 5/13/1809 – 4/24/1818 | Newspaper Archives |
| Lynchburg | Lynchburg Weekly Gazette | 10/13/1798 – 7/20/1799 | Newspaper Archives |
| Lynchburg | Lynchburg Weekly Museum | 8/21/1797 – 5/19/1798 | Newspaper Archives |
| Lynchburg | News & Advance | 3/11/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Madison | Madison County Eagle | 3/26/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Manassas | Prince William Today | 2/21/2013 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Manassas | News & Messenger | 5/2/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Marion | Smyth County News & Messenger | 1/31/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Marion | Bland County Messenger | 4/1/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| McLean | Fairfax Sun Gazette | 5/6/2006 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| McLean | McLean Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Mechanicsville | Mechanicsville Local | 7/27/2010 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Merrifield | Arlington Sun Gazette | 4/3/2006 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Newport News | Daily Press | 1/1/1989 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Norfolk | American Beacon | 8/7/1815 – 12/30/1820 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Norfolk Gazette and Publick Ledger | 7/17/1804 – 9/17/1816 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Virginia Chronicle | 7/28/1792 – 12/18/1794 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Commercial Register | 8/16/1802 – 1/11/1803 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Norfolk and Portsmouth Journal | 9/28/1787 – 5/6/1789 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Norfolk and Portsmouth Chronicle | 9/26/1789 – 6/2/1792 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Norfolk and Portsmouth Herald | 10/8/1807 – 6/19/1820 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Norfolk and Portsmouth Gazette | 9/23/1789 – 10/8/1789 | Newspaper Archives |
| Norfolk | Virginian-Pilot | 4/1/1990 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Orange | Orange County Review | 3/3/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Petersburg | Petersburg Daily Courier | 9/21/1814 – 6/22/1815 | Newspaper Archives |
| Petersburg | Petersburg Intelligencer | 5/29/1798 – 9/22/1815 | Newspaper Archives |
| Petersburg | American Star | 6/23/1817 – 12/23/1817 | Newspaper Archives |
| Petersburg | National Pilot | 2/1/1900 – 2/1/1900 | Newspaper Archives |
| Petersburg | Progress-Index | 10/31/2001 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Powhatan | Powhatan Today | 4/2/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Reston | Reston Connection | 2/26/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Richlands | Richlands News-Press | 1/6/2010 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Richmond | Richmond Times Dispatch | 1/27/1903 – 12/31/1986 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Enquirer | 5/9/1804 – 8/22/1876 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Whig | 6/22/1824 – 12/29/1874 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Enquirer | 10/25/1844 – 4/28/1870 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Examiner | 4/8/1861 – 8/29/1866 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Virginia Argus | 5/9/1795 – 10/19/1816 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Virginia Patriot | 12/26/1809 – 8/3/1819 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Commercial Compiler | 12/18/1816 – 4/20/1820 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Southern Illustrated News | 9/13/1862 – 9/10/1864 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Chronicle | 5/23/1795 – 8/27/1796 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Virginia Gazette, and General Advertiser | 12/7/1791 – 7/14/1809 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Impartial Observer | 5/1/1806 – 7/2/1807 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Virginia Star | 5/11/1878 – 12/23/1882 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Virginia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser | 3/2/1782 – 3/4/1796 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Daily Whig | 12/27/1833 – 2/15/1882 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Planet | 2/21/1885 – 1/13/1900 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Recorder | 11/10/1802 – 8/6/1803 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Spirit of ‘Seventy-Six | 9/20/1808 – 7/11/1809 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Reformer | 1/27/1900 – 1/27/1900 | Newspaper Archives |
| Richmond | Richmond Times-Dispatch | 8/19/1985 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Roanoke | Roanoke Times | 1/1/1990 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| South Hill | South Hill Enterprise | 1/7/2004 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Springfield | Springfield Connection | 10/15/2002 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Stafford | Stafford County Sun | 4/17/2008 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Stanardsville | Greene County Record | 3/3/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Staunton | Staunton Eagle | 8/14/1807 – 10/3/1810 | Newspaper Archives |
| Staunton | Staunton Political Censor | 6/22/1808 – 2/22/1809 | Newspaper Archives |
| Staunton | Staunton Spy | 9/21/1793 – 2/1/1794 | Newspaper Archives |
| Staunton | Political Mirror | 6/3/1800 – 8/11/1801 | Newspaper Archives |
| Staunton | Observer | 8/4/1814 – 8/18/1814 | Newspaper Archives |
| Staunton | Spirit of the Press | 5/18/1811 – 5/18/1811 | Newspaper Archives |
| Strasburg | Northern Virginia Daily | 12/17/2007 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Suffolk | Suffolk News-Herald | 10/2/2014 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Warrenton | Palladium of Liberty | 8/23/1817 – 12/22/1820 | Newspaper Archives |
| Waynesboro | News Virginian | 2/3/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Williamsburg | Virginia Gazette | 3/18/1736 – 12/30/1780 | Newspaper Archives |
| Winchester | Republican Constellation | 7/20/1811 – 7/31/1819 | Newspaper Archives |
| Winchester | Winchester Virginian | 4/18/1828 – 9/6/1836 | Newspaper Archives |
| Winchester | Winchester Gazette | 6/27/1798 – 1/15/1820 | Newspaper Archives |
| Winchester | Philanthropist | 3/25/1806 – 2/28/1809 | Newspaper Archives |
| Winchester | Winchester Star | 4/30/2009 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Wirtz | Smith Mountain Eagle | 10/6/2004 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Woodstock | Shenandoah Valley-Herald | 6/24/2010 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
| Wytheville | Wytheville Enterprise | 2/1/2011 – Current | Recent Obituaries |
*Date Ranges may have selected coverage unavailable.
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