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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 Bijou (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 Bijou. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Bijou is located in El Dorado 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 El Dorado County: Alpine, Amador, Placer, Sacramento & Douglas (NV).

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

  • El Dorado County     (The home county of Bijou)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Al Tahoe
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Al Tahoe is located in El Dorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Al Tahoe
    • South Lake Tahoe
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Tallac Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Tallac Village is located in El Dorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallac Village
    • Fallen Leaf
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Echo Lake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Phillips
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Phillips is located in El Dorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips
    • Tahoma
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Twin Bridges
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Strawberry
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Kyburz
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • White Hall
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • White Hall is located in El Dorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Hall
    • Riverton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Riverton is located in El Dorado County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton
  • Alpine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Sorensens
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Sorensens is located in Alpine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorensens
    • Mesa Vista
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Mesa Vista is located in Alpine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mesa Vista
    • Paynesville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Paynesville is located in Alpine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paynesville
    • Alpine Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Alpine Village is located in Alpine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine Village
    • Woodfords
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodfords is located in Alpine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodfords
    • Marklee Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Marklee Village is located in Alpine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marklee Village
    • Markleeville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Loope ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Loope is located in Alpine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loope
  • Amador County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Kirkwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Kit Carson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Nevada County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Polaris
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Polaris is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polaris
    • Truckee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bronco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Bronco is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bronco
    • Prosser Lake Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Prosser Lake Heights is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prosser Lake Heights
    • Donner Woods
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Donner Woods is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donner Woods
  • Placer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Tahoma Meadows
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Tahoma Meadows is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahoma Meadows
    • Homewood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Tahoe Pines
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Tahoe Pines is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahoe Pines
    • Tahoe City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dollar Point
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Dollar Point is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar Point
    • Lake Forest
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake Forest is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Forest
    • Brockway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Carnelian Bay
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Kings Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Tahoe Vista
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Soda Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Soda Springs is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soda Springs
    • Andover ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Andover is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andover
  • Carson City (NV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Carson City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakeview Summit
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lakeview Summit is located in Carson City (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Summit
    • New Empire
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • New Empire is located in Carson City (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Empire
    • Empire
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Empire is located in Carson City (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
  • Douglas County (NV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Edgewood
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Edgewood is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
    • Stateline
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Tahoe Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Tahoe Village is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahoe Village
    • Zephyr Cove
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Kingsbury
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsbury is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
    • Summit Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Summit Village is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Village
    • Kingsbury Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsbury Village is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury Village
    • Skyland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Skyland is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyland
    • Mottsville ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Mottsville is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottsville
    • Lincoln Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Lincoln Park is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Park
    • Walleys Hot Springs
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Walleys Hot Springs is located in Douglas County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walleys Hot Springs
    • Genoa
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Lyon County (NV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Mound House
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Eureka ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Eureka is located in Lyon County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
    • Johntown ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Johntown is located in Lyon County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johntown
    • Dayton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Silver City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Silver City is located in Lyon County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
    • Sutro ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Sutro is located in Lyon County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutro
  • Storey County (NV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • American City ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • American City is located in Storey County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for American City
    • American Flat ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • American Flat is located in Storey County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for American Flat
    • Gold Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gold Hill is located in Storey County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Hill
    • Virginia City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Washoe County (NV)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bijou, with the one closest to Bijou listed first.
    • Crystal Bay
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Incline Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Tyrolian Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Tyrolian Village is located in Washoe County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrolian Village
    • Franktown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Franktown is located in Washoe County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franktown
    • Ophir City ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Ophir City is located in Washoe County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ophir City
    • New Washoe City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sundown Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Sundown Town is located in Washoe County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sundown Town
    • Washoe City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Washoe City is located in Washoe County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washoe City
    • Galena ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Galena is located in Washoe County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galena
    • Pleasant Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Pleasant Valley is located in Washoe County (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley

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

Cemeteries Near Bijou ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bijou.

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 Bijou - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Bijou had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Lake Valley
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Valley is located in El Dorado County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Valley
  • Hobart ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Hobart is located in Douglas County (NV)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobart
  • Tallac Village
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Tallac Village is located in El Dorado County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallac Village
  • Genoa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Emerald Bay
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Emerald Bay is located in El Dorado County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Bay
  • Sheridan ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Sheridan is located in Douglas County (NV)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan
  • Glenbrook
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Gardnerville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Woodfords
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodfords is located in Alpine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodfords
  • Tahoe City
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Carson City
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Markleeville
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Incline Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Brunswick ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Brunswick is located in Carson City (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
    • Empire
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Empire is located in Carson City (NV)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire

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

Newspapers Published in Bijou ...

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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bijou.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bijou, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bijou.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Bijou:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bijou) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Bijou, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.