RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of California >> Contra Costa County >> Clayton >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
California

The Commemorative Quarter for California





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 Clayton (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 Clayton. 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 doctors and 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.

Clayton is located in Contra Costa County.

To see how the shape of California's counties 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 Clayton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clayton:

  • Contra Costa County     (The home county of Clayton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • West Pittsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Pittsburg have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pittsburg
      • West Pittsburg is located in Contra Costa County
    • Marsh Creek Springs
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Bay Point
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Pittsburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Concord
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rock City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rock City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
      • Rock City is located in Contra Costa County
    • Pleasant Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Waldon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Waldon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldon
      • Waldon is located in Contra Costa County
    • Empire ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Empire have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Empire
      • Empire is located in Contra Costa County
    • Clyde
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clyde have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
      • Clyde is located in Contra Costa County
    • Diablo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Walnut Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Alameda County
  • Marin County
  • Napa County
  • Sacramento County
  • San Francisco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Chinatown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Sydney Town ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sydney Town have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
      • Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
    • San Francisco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Friendship Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Friendship Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
      • Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
    • Amanico Ergina Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Amanico Ergina Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
      • Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
  • San Joaquin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Terminous
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Holt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Ellis ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ellis have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
      • Ellis is located in San Joaquin County
    • Tracy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Solano County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
    • Birds Landing
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Benicia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Denverton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Denverton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denverton
      • Denverton is located in Solano County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Denverton
      • From Clayton to Denverton
    • Solano City ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Solano City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solano City
      • Solano City is located in Solano County
    • Rio Vista
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Vallejo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Suisun City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Mare Island ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mare Island. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
      • Mare Island is located in Solano County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mare Island
      • From Clayton to Mare Island
    • Fairfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Travis Field
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Travis Field have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travis Field
      • Travis Field is located in Solano County
    • Guadalcanal Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Guadalcanal Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village
      • Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
    • Cannon ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cannon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
      • Cannon is located in Solano County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cannon
      • From Clayton to Cannon

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

Cemeteries Near Clayton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clayton.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Live Oak Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Live Oak Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Live Oak Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Rose Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Rose Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Rose Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Stephen Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Stephen Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Stephen Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Memory Gardens Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Oakmont Memorial Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakmont Memorial Park
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakmont Memorial Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lafayette Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lafayette Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lafayette Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • New Holy Cross Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the New Holy Cross Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the New Holy Cross Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakmount Memorial Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Queen of Heaven Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Queen of Heaven Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Queen of Heaven Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Queen of Haven Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Queen of Haven Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Queen of Haven Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oak View Memorial Park
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oak View Memorial Park
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oak View Memorial Park have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (49 more) ...
    • Alhambra Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Alhambra Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Alhambra Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Catholic Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Catholic Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • St. Dominics Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Dominics Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Dominics Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Clayton had a population of 268 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Clayton had a population of 11,527 people.

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

  • Nortonville ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nortonville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nortonville
    • Nortonville is located in Contra Costa County
  • Stewartville ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stewartville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
    • Stewartville is located in Contra Costa County
  • Somersville ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Somersville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somersville
    • Somersville is located in Contra Costa County
  • McAvoy
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for McAvoy have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAvoy
    • McAvoy is located in Contra Costa County
  • Bay Point
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Cornwall
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cornwall have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornwall
    • Cornwall is located in Contra Costa County
  • Concord
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Walnut Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Alamo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Danville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Antioch
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Pacheco
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Avon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lafayette
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Collinsville ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Collinsville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collinsville
      • Collinsville is located in Solano County

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

Newspapers Published in Clayton ...

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 118 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clayton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clayton, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clayton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Clayton:

The official website for Clayton: www.ci.clayton.ca.us/

The official website for Contra Costa County: www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/

The official website for State of California: https://www.ca.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<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.
<5>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 Clayton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Clayton) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Clayton. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.9422, Longitude: -121.9374    









 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025