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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 Dresser (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 Dresser. 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.

Dresser 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 Dresser. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Dresser:

  • Alameda County     (The home county of Dresser)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresser, with the one closest to Dresser listed first.
    • Sunol
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Fremont
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Scotts Corner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Scotts Corner is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Corner
    • Union City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Pleasanton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Albrae ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Albrae is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albrae
    • Newark
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Alvarado ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Alvarado is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
    • Dublin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Fairview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairview is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Larkins Landing ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Larkins Landing is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkins Landing
    • Drawbridge ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Drawbridge is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawbridge
      • Former name for Drawbridge:
      • Saline City
  • Contra Costa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresser, with the one closest to Dresser listed first.
    • San Ramon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Blackhawk - Camino Tassajara
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Blackhawk
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Blackhawk is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
    • Tassajara
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Tassajara is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tassajara
    • Danville
      (16 miles [25.7 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>
    • Diablo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Rock City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Rock City is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
    • Alamo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Moraga
      (19 miles [30.6 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>
    • Marsh Creek Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Marsh Creek Springs is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Creek Springs
    • Walnut Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Lafayette
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • San Francisco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresser, with the one closest to Dresser listed first.
    • Mission District
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Mission District is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
    • Chinatown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
    • Friendship Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
    • San Francisco
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Sydney Town ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
    • Amanico Ergina Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
    • Golden Gate Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
    • Stonestown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
  • San Joaquin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresser, with the one closest to Dresser listed first.
    • Carnegie ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Carnegie is located in San Joaquin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
    • Ellis ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Ellis is located in San Joaquin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
    • Tracy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Tracy is located in San Joaquin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 95,025 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tracy <1>
    • Wainwright Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Wainwright Village is located in San Joaquin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wainwright Village
  • San Mateo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresser, with the one closest to Dresser listed first.
    • East Palo Alto
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • The Willows
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • The Willows is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
    • Menlo Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • North Fair Oaks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • North Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fair Oaks
    • Atherton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Redwood City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • West Menlo Park
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Foster City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • San Carlos
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Ladera
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Ladera is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladera
    • Emerald Lake Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Emerald Lake Hills is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Lake Hills
    • Belmont
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Santa Clara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresser, with the one closest to Dresser listed first.
    • Alviso
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Milpitas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Agnew
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
    • Palo Alto
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Castro City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Castro City is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castro City
    • Escondido Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Escondido Village is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escondido Village
    • Mountain View
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ventura
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Ventura is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventura
    • Santa Clara
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • East Foothills
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • East Foothills is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Foothills
    • Los Altos
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Stanford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Santa Cruz County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dresser, with the one closest to Dresser listed first.
    • Alma ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Alma is located in Santa Cruz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
    • Summit
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Summit is located in Santa Cruz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
      • Summit has also been known as:
      • Loma Prieta

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

Cemeteries Near Dresser ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dresser.

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

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

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

  • Presbyterian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Holy Ghost Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Irvington Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ohlone Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ohlones Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Mission San Jose Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Pleasanton Memorial Gardens Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Dublin Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Lone Tree Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (68 more) ...
    • Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • All Saints Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Cedar Lawn Memorial Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lawn Memorial Park
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cedar Lawn Memorial Park is a large cemetery that is located in Fremont.
      • The Cedar Lawn Memorial Park has also been known as:
      • Cedar Lawn Memorial Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7892 <2>

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

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

  • Sunol
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Newark
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Pleasanton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Alvarado ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Alvarado is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
  • Mount Eden
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Alviso
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Milpitas
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • San Lorenzo
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Livermore
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • San Ramon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Agnew
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
  • Palo Alto
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • San Leandro
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Fair Oaks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks
    • Menlo Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Dresser ...

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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dresser.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dresser, 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 Dresser.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Dresser:

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 Dresser, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Dresser) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.