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 Acalanes (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 Acalanes. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 south 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.
Acalanes is located in Contra Costa County.
To see how the shape of California's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Contra Costa County: Alameda, Marin, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin & Solano.
Below are the counties that are near Acalanes. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Acalanes:
- Contra Costa County (The home county of Acalanes)
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Lafayette
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Orinda
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Orinda Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Orinda Village is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orinda Village
- Walnut Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Moraga
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Moraga is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moraga
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,967 people
- Former name for Moraga:
- Willow Springs
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moraga <1>
- Waldon
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Waldon is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldon
- Pleasant Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Pacheco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Alamo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain View
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mountain View is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain View
- Concord
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kensington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Alameda County
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Canyon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Montclair
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Montclair is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montclair
- Normandy Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Normandy Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
- Rochedale Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rochedale Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochedale Village
- Piedmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Berkeley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Berkeley is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Berkeley
- Former name for South Berkeley:
- Lorin
- Berkeley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Laurel
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Laurel is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Allendale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Allendale is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
- East Oakland ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
- Albany
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- University Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- University Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Marin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Fort McDowell
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
- Belvedere
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Tiburon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Paradise Cay
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Paradise Cay is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Cay
- San Quentin
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Sausalito
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Bel Aire
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bel Aire is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bel Aire
- Strawberry
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Strawberry is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
- Corte Madera
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Manzanita
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Manzanita is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita
- Marin City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Marin City is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marin City
- Greenbrae
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Napa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- American Canyon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lombard
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lombard is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lombard
- Middleton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Middleton is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Suscol ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Suscol is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suscol
- Suscol has also been known as:
- Soscol
- Susqual
- Merazo
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Merazo is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merazo
- Napa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Union
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- San Francisco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Sydney Town ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
- Chinatown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
- Amanico Ergina Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
- Friendship Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
- Mission District
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mission District is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
- San Francisco
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Golden Gate Heights
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
- Doelger City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
- Stonestown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
- San Mateo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Brisbane
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- South San Francisco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Broadmoor Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Broadmoor Village is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor Village
- Broadmoor
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Broadmoor is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor
- Colma
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Daly City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- San Bruno
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Westlake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Westlake is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Foster City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Burlingame
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Millbrae
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Hillsborough
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Solano County
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Benicia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mare Island ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mare Island is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
- Vallejo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Guadalcanal Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village
- Birds Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Green Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Suisun City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Suisun City is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suisun City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 29,305 people
- Suisun City has also been known as:
- Suisun
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Suisun City <1>
- Fairfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mankas Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Mankas Corner is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mankas Corner
- Denverton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Denverton is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denverton
- Solano City ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Solano City is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solano City
- Travis Field
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Travis Field is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travis Field
- Sonoma County
- The following are listed by their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Sears Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sears Point is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sears Point
- McGill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- McGill is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGill
- Wingo ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wingo is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingo
- Lakeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeville is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- Vineburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Acalanes, see our County-by-County Page for Acalanes.
Cemeteries Near Acalanes ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Acalanes.
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 Acalanes - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Acalanes covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Lafayette Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Queen of Haven Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakmount Memorial Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Queen of Heaven Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakmont Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmont Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Oakmont Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Pleasant Hill.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8221 <2>
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- St. Stephen Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sunset View Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Alhambra Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alhambra Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Alhambra Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Martinez.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7834 <2>
- Catholic Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Home of Peace Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (75 more) ...
- Evergreen Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Mausoleum
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Live Oak Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
While we didn't find Acalanes in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Acalanes.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Acalanes, with the one closest to Acalanes listed first.
- Lafayette
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Walnut Creek
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Alamo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pacheco
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Berkeley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Concord
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Berkeley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- West Berkeley is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Berkeley
- East Oakland ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
- Seminary Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Seminary Park is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seminary Park
- Martinez
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Emeryville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Oakland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- West Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oakland
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Oakland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Brooklyn is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Former names for Brooklyn:
- Antonio
- Clinton
- Fruitvale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fruitvale is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitvale
- Former names for Fruitvale:
- Brays
- Fruit Vale
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Acalanes. See our List of 1890's Communities around Acalanes.
Newspapers Published in Acalanes ...
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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Acalanes.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Acalanes, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Acalanes.
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 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 Acalanes:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Contra Costa County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alameda County
- Marin County
- Napa County
- San Francisco County
- San Mateo County
- Solano County
- Sonoma County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for California
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 Acalanes, 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- Acalanes) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |