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 Grabtown (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 Grabtown. 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 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.
Grabtown is located in San Mateo 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 San Mateo County: Alameda, San Francisco, Santa Clara & Santa Cruz.
Below are the counties that are near Grabtown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Grabtown:
- San Mateo County (The home county of Grabtown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grabtown, with the one closest to Grabtown listed first.
- Adobe Corner
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Adobe Corner is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adobe Corner
- Woodside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Martins Beach
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Martins Beach is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martins Beach
- Searsville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Searsville is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsville
- Emerald Lake Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Emerald Lake Hills is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Lake Hills
- Half Moon Bay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Highlands
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Highlands is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highlands
- San Gregorio
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Portola Valley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Belmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Highlands - Baywood Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Laurel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Laurel is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Alameda County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grabtown, with the one closest to Grabtown listed first.
- Alvarado ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Alvarado is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Newark
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Larkins Landing ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Larkins Landing is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkins Landing
- Mount Eden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Russell City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Russell City is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell City
- Albrae ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Albrae is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albrae
- Drawbridge ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Drawbridge is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawbridge
- Former name for Drawbridge:
- Saline City
- Union City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Fremont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- San Lorenzo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Ashland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cherryland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cherryland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryland
- Contra Costa County
- Moraga
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Marin County
- Fort McDowell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
- San Francisco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grabtown, with the one closest to Grabtown listed first.
- Stonestown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
- Golden Gate Heights
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
- Mission District
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mission District is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
- Doelger City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
- San Francisco
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Amanico Ergina Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
- Chinatown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
- Friendship Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
- Sydney Town ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
- Santa Clara County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grabtown, with the one closest to Grabtown listed first.
- Stanford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Escondido Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Escondido Village is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escondido Village
- Los Altos Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Palo Alto
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ventura
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ventura is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventura
- Los Altos
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Castro City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Castro City is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castro City
- Loyola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Loyola is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyola
- Mountain View
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Sunnyvale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cupertino
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Alviso
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Santa Cruz County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grabtown, with the one closest to Grabtown listed first.
- Boulder Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Swanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Swanton is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swanton
- Alma ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Alma is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Brookdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ben Lomond
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lompico
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lompico is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lompico
- Summit
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Summit is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Summit has also been known as:
- Loma Prieta
- Davenport Landing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Davenport Landing is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davenport Landing
- Bonny Doon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Eccles ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Eccles is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eccles
- Zayante
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Zayante is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zayante
- Davenport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Grabtown, see our County-by-County Page for Grabtown.
Cemeteries Near Grabtown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Grabtown.
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 Grabtown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Grabtown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Grabtown, with the one closest to Grabtown listed first.
- Skylawn Memorial Park
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- IOOF Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Pilarcitos Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Union Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oakwood Community Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Community Cemetery
- The Oakwood Community Cemetery has also been known as:
- Convent Of The Sacred Heart Cemetery
- St. Johns Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- St. Anthony Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Alta Mesa Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Golden Gate National Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Gates of Heaven Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (51 more) ...
- Orange Memorial Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Golden Hill Memorial Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Colma.
- The Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- Holy Cross Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8038 <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 Grabtown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Grabtown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Grabtown, with the one closest to Grabtown listed first.
- Woodside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Searsville ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Searsville is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsville
- Half Moon Bay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- San Gregorio
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Redwood City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- San Carlos
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Belmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Fair Oaks
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks
- Menlo Park
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- San Mateo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pescadero
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Mayfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mayfield is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Palo Alto
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Millbrae
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- San Bruno
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Grabtown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Grabtown.
Newspapers Published in Grabtown ...
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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Grabtown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Grabtown, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Grabtown.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Grabtown:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to San Mateo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
- Marin County
- San Francisco County
- Santa Clara County
- Santa Cruz County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for California
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 Grabtown, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Grabtown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |