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 Midway (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 Midway. 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 and 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.
Midway 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 Midway. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Midway:
- Alameda County (The home county of Midway)
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Tesla ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Tesla is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tesla
- Altamont
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Altamont is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altamont
- Laddville ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Laddville is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laddville
- Livermore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Pleasanton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Scotts Corner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Scotts Corner is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Corner
- Sunol
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Komandorski Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Komandorski Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Komandorski Village
- Dublin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- San Ramon Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- San Ramon Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Ramon Village
- Fremont
(26 miles [41.8 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>
- Fairview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Fairview is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Contra Costa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Byron
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Discovery Bay
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bixler
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bixler is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bixler
- Brentwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tassajara
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Tassajara is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tassajara
- Knightsen
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Marsh Creek Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Marsh Creek Springs is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Creek Springs
- Blackhawk - Camino Tassajara
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Blackhawk
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Blackhawk is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
- Bethel Island
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Oakley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Rock City is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
- Sacramento County
- Isleton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- San Joaquin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Ellis ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ellis is located in San Joaquin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Tracy
(6 miles [9.7 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>
- Carnegie ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Carnegie is located in San Joaquin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carnegie
- Wainwright Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Wainwright Village is located in San Joaquin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wainwright Village
- Lyoth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lyoth is located in San Joaquin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyoth
- Banta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Vernalis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Holt
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lathrop
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Manteca
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- French Camp
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Manteca Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Manteca Junction is located in San Joaquin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manteca Junction
- Santa Clara County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- East Foothills
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- East Foothills is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Foothills
- Milpitas
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Alum Rock
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Alum Rock is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Rock
- Alviso
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stanislaus County
- The following are listed by their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Westley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grayson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Grayson is located in Stanislaus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grayson
- Tuolumne City ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Tuolumne City is located in Stanislaus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuolumne City
- Salida
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Riverdale Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Riverdale Park is located in Stanislaus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverdale Park
- Patterson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Del Rio
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Del Rio is located in Stanislaus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Del Rio
- West Modesto
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- West Modesto is located in Stanislaus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Modesto
- Stewart
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Stewart is located in Stanislaus County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Midway, see our County-by-County Page for Midway.
Cemeteries Near Midway ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Midway.
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 Midway - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Midway covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Tracy Public Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- St. Michaels Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Brichetto Tomb
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brichetto Tomb
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Brichetto Tomb is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<3> to the south of Tracy.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7862 <2>
- Roselawn Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Oak Knoll Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Byron Brentwood Knightson Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Union Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Union Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Brentwood.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #188400 <2>
- Pleasanton Memorial Gardens Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- East Union Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Chinese Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinese Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Chinese Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the south of Stockton.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7905 <2>
- Ahayas Achim Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Congregation Adas Yeshuran of Stockton Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (37 more) ...
- Congregation of Ahavas Achim Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Park View Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dublin Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
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 Midway had a population of 29 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Midway, with the one closest to Midway listed first.
- Ellis ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Ellis is located in San Joaquin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
- Tracy
(6 miles [9.7 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>
- Banta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Livermore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Byron
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Yarmouth ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Yarmouth is located in San Joaquin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarmouth
- Vernalis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Lathrop
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasanton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Brentwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sunol
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- French Camp
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Westley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stockton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stewartville ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Stewartville is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewartville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Midway. See our List of 1890's Communities around Midway.
Newspapers Published in Midway ...
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 135 newspapers that have been published in the area around Midway.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Midway, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Midway.
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 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 Midway:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Alameda County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Contra Costa County
- Sacramento County
- San Joaquin County
- Santa Clara County
- Stanislaus 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Midway) 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 Midway, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |