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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 Brookshire (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 Brookshire. 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 and doctors 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.

Brookshire is located in Alameda 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 Alameda County: Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara & Stanislaus.

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

  • Alameda County     (The home county of Brookshire)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookshire, with the one closest to Brookshire listed first.
    • Fairview
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Fairview is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • San Ramon Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • San Ramon Village is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Ramon Village
    • Castro Valley
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Dublin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ashland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherryland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Cherryland is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryland
    • Hayward
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Komandorski Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Komandorski Village is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komandorski Village
    • San Lorenzo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • San Leandro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Canyon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookfield Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Brookfield Village is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield Village
    • Havenscourt
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Havenscourt is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havenscourt
  • Contra Costa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookshire, with the one closest to Brookshire listed first.
    • San Ramon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Danville
      (4 miles [6.4 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
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Diablo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Blackhawk - Camino Tassajara
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Blackhawk
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Blackhawk is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
    • Moraga
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Rock City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock City is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
    • Tassajara
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Tassajara is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tassajara
    • Walnut Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Lafayette
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Waldon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Waldon is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldon
    • Orinda
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Orinda is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orinda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19,557 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Orinda <1>
  • Marin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookshire, with the one closest to Brookshire listed first.
    • Fort McDowell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
    • Tiburon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Belvedere
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Sausalito
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Paradise Cay
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Paradise Cay is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Cay
    • San Quentin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bel Aire
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Bel Aire is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bel Aire
    • Manzanita
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Manzanita is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita
    • Marin City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Marin City is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marin City
    • Strawberry
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Strawberry is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
    • Corte Madera
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mill Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Tamalpais - Homestead Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • San Francisco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookshire, with the one closest to Brookshire listed first.
    • Chinatown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
    • Sydney Town ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
    • Friendship Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
    • Mission District
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Mission District is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
    • San Francisco
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Amanico Ergina Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
    • Golden Gate Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
    • Stonestown
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
    • Doelger City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
  • San Joaquin County
    • Carnegie ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Carnegie is located in San Joaquin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
  • San Mateo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookshire, with the one closest to Brookshire listed first.
    • Foster City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • East Palo Alto
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • The Willows
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • The Willows is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
    • Burlingame
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Laurel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Laurel is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
    • North Fair Oaks
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • North Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fair Oaks
    • San Carlos
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • San Mateo
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Brisbane
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • South San Francisco
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Menlo Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Atherton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Belmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Santa Clara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookshire, with the one closest to Brookshire listed first.
    • Palo Alto
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Alviso
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Milpitas
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Ventura
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Ventura is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventura
    • Castro City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Castro City is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castro City
    • Escondido Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Escondido Village is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escondido Village
    • Stanford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Agnew
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
    • Mountain View
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Los Altos Hills
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Los Altos
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Sunnyvale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • East Foothills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • East Foothills is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Foothills
  • Solano County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookshire, with the one closest to Brookshire listed first.
    • Benicia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Mare Island ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mare Island is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
    • Vallejo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Birds Landing
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Guadalcanal Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village

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

Cemeteries Near Brookshire ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brookshire.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Lone Tree Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • All Saints Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Dublin Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • San Lorenzo Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Evergreen Mausoleum
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Eden Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Home of Peace Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (77 more) ...
    • Lafayette Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pleasanton Memorial Gardens Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Mountain View Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)

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 Brookshire in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brookshire.

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

  • San Ramon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Danville
    (4 miles [6.4 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
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • San Leandro
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • San Lorenzo
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Seminary Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Seminary Park is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seminary Park
  • Mount Eden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Melrose
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Melrose is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
  • Walnut Creek
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Pleasanton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Lafayette
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • East Oakland ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • East Oakland is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Fruitvale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Fruitvale is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitvale
      • Former names for Fruitvale:
      • Brays
      • Fruit Vale
    • Alvarado ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Alvarado is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
    • Alameda
      (11 miles [17.7 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 Brookshire. See our List of 1890's Communities around Brookshire.

Newspapers Published in Brookshire ...

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 114 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brookshire.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brookshire, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brookshire.

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 Brookshire:

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 Brookshire, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Brookshire) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.