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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 Merritt (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 Merritt. 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 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.

Merritt is located in Yolo 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 Yolo County: Colusa, Lake, Napa, Sacramento, Solano & Sutter.

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

  • Yolo County     (The home county of Merritt)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
    • Plainfield
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Plainfield is located in Yolo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
    • Woodland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Davis
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • El Macero
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Swingle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Swingle is located in Yolo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swingle
    • Yolo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Bryte
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • West Sacramento
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Knights Landing
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Winters
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Madison
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Broderick
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Zamora
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Colusa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
    • Harrington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Harrington is located in Colusa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrington
    • College City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Napa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
    • Redbud Park ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Redbud Park is located in Napa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbud Park
    • Monticello ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Monticello is located in Napa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
    • Las Putas ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Las Putas is located in Napa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Las Putas
    • Spanish Flat
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Placer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
    • Riego
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Riego is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riego
    • Roseville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Whitney ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Whitney is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
    • Rocklin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Sacramento County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
    • Sutterville ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Sutterville is located in Sacramento County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sutterville
    • Sacramento
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Rio Linda
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Elverta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Freeport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Freeport is located in Sacramento County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
    • Ben Ali
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Ben Ali is located in Sacramento County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Ali
    • Parkway - South Sacramento
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Town and Country Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Arcade ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Arcade is located in Sacramento County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcade
    • Arden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Arden is located in Sacramento County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arden
    • Perkins
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Perkins is located in Sacramento County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
    • Florin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Florin is located in Sacramento County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florin
    • Laguna West - Lakeside
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • San Joaquin County
    • Mokelumne City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Mokelumne City is located in San Joaquin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mokelumne City
  • Solano County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
    • Dixon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Dixon is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,440 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dixon <1>
    • Batavia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Batavia is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
    • Allendale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Allendale is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
    • Hartley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Hartley is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
    • Elmira
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Leisure Town
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Leisure Town is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Town
    • Vacaville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Oxford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Oxford is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
    • Cannon ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Cannon is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
    • Travis Field
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Travis Field is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travis Field
    • Denverton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Denverton is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denverton
    • Solano City ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Solano City is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solano City
    • Fairfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Sutter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Merritt, with the one closest to Merritt listed first.
    • Robbins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Nicolas
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Nicolaus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Marcuse ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Marcuse is located in Sutter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marcuse
    • Rio Oso
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Yuba County
    • Plumas Landing ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Plumas Landing is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumas Landing

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

Cemeteries Near Merritt ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Merritt.

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

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

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

  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Joseph's Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Joseph's Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Woodland.
    • The St. Joseph's Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1990865 <2>
  • Woodland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Woodland Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Woodland.
    • The Woodland Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Woodland City Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8455 <2>
  • Davis Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Davis Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Davis.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7930 <2>
  • Monument Hill Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Cacheville Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cacheville Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cacheville Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Yolo.
    • The Cacheville Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Old Yolo Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2344398 <2>
  • Tremont Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Mary's Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Gordon Family Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • The Gordon Family Cemetery is located on private property - be sure to secure permission before visiting and respect the owner's property rights.
    • We're sorry, but we do not have contact information for the owner.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Family Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Gordon Family Cemetery is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<3> to the west of Woodland.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2414016 <2>
  • Cottonwood Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cottonwood Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cottonwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the southeast of Esparto.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7919 <2>
  • Silveyville Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Knights Landing Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (41 more) ...
    • Winters Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winters Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Winters Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Winters.
      • The Winters Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Masonic Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8452 <2>
    • Corbin Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Odd Fellows Lawn Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Merritt had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Plainfield
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Plainfield is located in Yolo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
  • Mullen ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Mullen is located in Yolo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mullen
  • Davis
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Woodland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Swingle
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Swingle is located in Yolo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swingle
  • Webster
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Webster is located in Yolo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webster
  • Yolo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Dixon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Dixon is located in Solano County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 20,440 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dixon <1>
  • Citrona
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Citrona is located in Yolo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Citrona
  • Winters
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Knights Landing
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Madison
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Allendale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Allendale is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
    • Batavia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Batavia is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
    • Sacramento
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Merritt ...

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 181 newspapers that have been published in the area around Merritt.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Merritt, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Merritt.

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 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 Merritt:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Merritt) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Merritt, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.