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 Melrose (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 Melrose. 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 northwest 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 north.
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 north 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.
Melrose 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 Melrose. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Melrose:
- Alameda County (The home county of Melrose)
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Havenscourt
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Havenscourt is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havenscourt
- Allendale
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Allendale is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
- Laurel
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Laurel is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- East Oakland ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- East Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
- Fruitvale
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fruitvale is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitvale
- Former names for Fruitvale:
- Brays
- Fruit Vale
- Brooklyn ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brooklyn is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Former names for Brooklyn:
- Antonio
- Clinton
- Brookfield Village
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brookfield Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield Village
- Alameda
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Montclair
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Montclair is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montclair
- Piedmont
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Canyon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Contra Costa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Moraga
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- 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>
- Orinda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Orinda Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Orinda Village is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orinda Village
- Lafayette
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alamo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kensington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Danville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- 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>
- El Cerrito
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- San Ramon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Walnut Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Richmond Heights
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- East Richmond Heights is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Richmond Heights
- Easter Hill Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Easter Hill Village is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easter Hill Village
- Marin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Fort McDowell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
- Belvedere
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Tiburon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sausalito
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Paradise Cay
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Paradise Cay is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Cay
- Marin City
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Marin City is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marin City
- Bel Aire
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bel Aire is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bel Aire
- Manzanita
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Manzanita is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita
- Strawberry
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Strawberry is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
- San Quentin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tamalpais - Homestead Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Corte Madera
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Napa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- American Canyon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Lombard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Lombard is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lombard
- Middleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Middleton is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- San Francisco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Sydney Town ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
- Chinatown
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
- Mission District
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Mission District is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
- San Francisco
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Amanico Ergina Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
- Friendship Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
- Golden Gate Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
- Doelger City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
- Stonestown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
- San Mateo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Brisbane
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- South San Francisco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Foster City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- San Bruno
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Burlingame
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Colma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Millbrae
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- San Mateo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Daly City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hillsborough
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Broadmoor Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Broadmoor Village is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor Village
- Broadmoor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Broadmoor is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor
- Santa Clara County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Palo Alto
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Escondido Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Escondido Village is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escondido Village
- Stanford
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Ventura
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ventura is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventura
- Castro City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Castro City is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castro City
- Alviso
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Los Altos Hills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Los Altos
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Mountain View
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Milpitas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Loyola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Loyola is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyola
- Agnew
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
- Solano County
- The following are listed by their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Benicia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Mare Island ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Mare Island is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
- Vallejo
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Guadalcanal Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village
- Birds Landing
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sonoma County
- Sears Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sears Point is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sears Point
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Melrose, see our County-by-County Page for Melrose.
Cemeteries Near Melrose ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Melrose.
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 Melrose - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Melrose covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Home of Peace Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Evergreen Mausoleum
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Mary's Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- San Lorenzo Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Eden Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- All Saints Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Tree Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sunset View Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lafayette Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (75 more) ...
- Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yerba Buena Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Oakmont Memorial Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakmont Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Oakmont Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Pleasant Hill.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8221 <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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Melrose had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Melrose, with the one closest to Melrose listed first.
- Seminary Park
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Seminary Park is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seminary Park
- East Oakland ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- East Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
- Fruitvale
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fruitvale is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitvale
- Former names for Fruitvale:
- Brays
- Fruit Vale
- Alameda
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Brooklyn ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brooklyn is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Former names for Brooklyn:
- Antonio
- Clinton
- San Leandro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Oakland
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- West Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oakland
- Emeryville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- San Lorenzo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Berkeley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- West Berkeley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- West Berkeley is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Berkeley
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Mount Eden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lafayette
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Alamo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Melrose. See our List of 1890's Communities around Melrose.
Newspapers Published in Melrose ...
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 217 newspapers that have been published in the area around Melrose.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Melrose, 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 Melrose.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Melrose:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Alameda County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Contra Costa County
- Marin County
- Napa County
- San Francisco County
- San Mateo County
- Santa Clara County
- Solano County
- Sonoma 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 Melrose, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Melrose) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |