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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Big Ripples. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Big Ripples to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Big Ripples, please Contact Us.

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 Big Ripples (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 Big Ripples. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

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 north 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Big Ripples is historic, it would have been located within present day Butte 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 Butte County: Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, Sutter, Tehama & Yuba.

Below are the counties that are near Big Ripples. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Ripples:

  • Butte County     (The home county of Big Ripples)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.
    • Cherokee ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherokee is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee
    • Oregon City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Oregon City is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oregon City
      • Former name for Oregon City:
      • Bloomingdale
    • Berry Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Big Bend
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Big Bend is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
    • Bidwell ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Bidwell is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
    • Bidwell Bar ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Bidwell Bar is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell Bar
    • Elsey
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Longs Bar ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Longs Bar is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longs Bar
    • South Fork ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • South Fork is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Fork
    • Concow
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Concow is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concow
    • Lynchburg ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Lynchburg is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynchburg
    • Oroville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Brush Creek
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brush Creek is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
  • Glenn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.
    • Butte City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Glenn
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Hamilton City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Afton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Afton is located in Glenn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Afton
  • Nevada County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.
    • Birchville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Birchville is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchville
    • North San Juan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgeport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bridgeport is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
  • Plumas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.
    • Storrie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bucks Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bucks Lake is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks Lake
    • Tobin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Tobin is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobin
    • La Porte
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Little Grass Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Little Grass Valley is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Grass Valley
    • Belden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Meadow Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Rich Bar ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rich Bar is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Bar
  • Santa Cruz County
  • Sierra County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.
    • Brandy City ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Brandy City is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandy City
    • Queen City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Queen City is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
  • Sutter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.
    • Live Oak
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Live Oak is located in Sutter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Live Oak
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,048 people
    • Pennington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Pennington is located in Sutter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennington
  • Yuba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.
    • Brownsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Rackerby
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Challenge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Strawberry Valley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Loma Rica
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Loma Rica is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loma Rica
    • Oregon House
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Iowa City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Iowa City is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iowa City
    • Bullards Bar ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Bullards Bar is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullards Bar
    • Dobbins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Foster Bar ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Foster Bar is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Bar
    • Depot Hill ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Depot Hill is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Depot Hill
    • Garden Valley ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Garden Valley is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
    • Browns Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Ripples, see our County-by-County Page for Big Ripples.

Cemeteries Near Big Ripples ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Ripples.

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 Big Ripples - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Ripples covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.

  • Cherokee Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cherokee Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 9 miles [14.5 km]<3> to the north of Oroville.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1967787 <4>
  • Oregon City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Lake Madrone Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Clarks Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Clear Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Thompson Flat Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Indian Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Butte County Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Oroville Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Memorial Park
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memorial Park
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Oroville.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8154 <4>
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (42 more) ...
    • Paradise Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Skyway Memorial Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Hamilton Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)

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.

While we didn't find Big Ripples in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Big Ripples.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Ripples, with the one closest to Big Ripples listed first.

  • Cherokee ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cherokee is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherokee
  • Yankee Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Yankee Hill is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yankee Hill
  • Big Bend
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Big Bend is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
  • Pentz
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Pentz is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pentz
  • Oroville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Enterprise ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Enterprise is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Brush Creek
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Brush Creek is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
  • Hurleton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hurleton is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hurleton
  • Wyandotte
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Wyandotte is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyandotte
  • Paradise
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Palermo
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Magalia
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Forbestown
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Merrimac
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Merrimac is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
    • Nelson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Ripples. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Ripples.

Newspapers Published in Big Ripples ...

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 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Ripples.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Big Ripples, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Big Ripples.

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 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 Big Ripples:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Big Ripples, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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- Big Ripples) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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.