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 Belle Haven (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 Belle Haven. 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.
Name Variations for Belle Haven ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Belle Haven: Belle Hvn. (or less commonly used: Belle Havn.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Belle Haven. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Belle Haven.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 doctors 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.
Belle Haven is located in San Mateo 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 San Mateo County: Alameda, San Francisco, Santa Clara & Santa Cruz.
Below are the counties that are near Belle Haven. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Belle Haven:
- San Mateo County (The home county of Belle Haven)
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- East Palo Alto
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- The Willows
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- The Willows is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
- Atherton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Menlo Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Fair Oaks
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- North Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fair Oaks
- West Menlo Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Redwood City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ladera
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Ladera is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladera
- San Carlos
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Adobe Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adobe Corner is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adobe Corner
- Searsville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Searsville is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsville
- Emerald Lake Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Emerald Lake Hills is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Lake Hills
- Alameda County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- Newark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Larkins Landing ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Larkins Landing is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkins Landing
- Albrae ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Albrae is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albrae
- Alvarado ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alvarado is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Drawbridge ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Drawbridge is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawbridge
- Former name for Drawbridge:
- Saline City
- Fremont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fremont is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234,569 people
- Former names for Fremont:
- Centerville
- Irvington
- Mission San Jose
- Niles
- Warm Springs
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
- Union City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Union City is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 74,501 people
- Former name for Union City:
- Decoto
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Union City <1>
- Mount Eden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Russell City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Russell City is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell City
- Hayward
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Cherryland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Cherryland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryland
- San Lorenzo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Contra Costa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- San Ramon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Moraga
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Danville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Danville is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44,883 people
- Former name for Danville:
- Inmanville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danville <1>
- Alamo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Blackhawk - Camino Tassajara
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Orinda
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Blackhawk
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Blackhawk is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
- Diablo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tassajara
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Tassajara is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tassajara
- Lafayette
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Orinda Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Orinda Village is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orinda Village
- Rock City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Rock City is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Marin County
- Fort McDowell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
- San Francisco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- Mission District
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mission District is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
- Stonestown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
- Chinatown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
- Friendship Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
- Golden Gate Heights
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
- San Francisco
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sydney Town ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
- Amanico Ergina Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
- Doelger City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
- Santa Clara County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- Palo Alto
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Escondido Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Escondido Village is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escondido Village
- Stanford
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ventura
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ventura is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventura
- Castro City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Castro City is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castro City
- Los Altos Hills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Los Altos
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mountain View
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Loyola
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Loyola is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyola
- Sunnyvale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Alviso
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Agnew
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
- Santa Cruz County
- The following are listed by their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- Alma ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Alma is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Boulder Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Summit
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Summit is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Summit has also been known as:
- Loma Prieta
- Brookdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Glenwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Glenwood is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Lompico
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Lompico is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lompico
- Laurel
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Laurel is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Ben Lomond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Eccles ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Eccles is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eccles
- Zayante
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Zayante is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zayante
- Swanton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Swanton is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swanton
- The Willows
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- The Willows is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Belle Haven, see our County-by-County Page for Belle Haven.
Cemeteries Near Belle Haven ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Belle Haven.
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 Belle Haven - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Belle Haven covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- Oakwood Community Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Community Cemetery
- The Oakwood Community Cemetery has also been known as:
- Convent Of The Sacred Heart Cemetery
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Alta Mesa Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Holy Ghost Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Gates of Heaven Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Presbyterian Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- St. Johns Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Irvington Memorial Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Eden Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (59 more) ...
- Skylawn Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Ohlone Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ohlone Cemetery
- The Ohlone Cemetery has also been known as:
- Ohlone Indian Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8228 <2>
- Ohlones Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 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 Belle Haven in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Belle Haven.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Belle Haven, with the one closest to Belle Haven listed first.
- Menlo Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Palo Alto
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Fair Oaks
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks
- Mayfield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mayfield is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Redwood City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- San Carlos
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Woodside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Searsville ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Searsville is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsville
- Mountain View
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Newark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Belmont
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Alvarado ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alvarado is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Alviso
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- San Mateo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lawrence is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Belle Haven. See our List of 1890's Communities around Belle Haven.
Newspapers Published in Belle Haven ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Belle Haven.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Belle Haven, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Belle Haven.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Belle Haven:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to San Mateo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
- Marin County
- San Francisco County
- Santa Clara County
- Santa Cruz 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 Belle Haven, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Belle Haven) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |