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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 Mission San Jose District (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 Mission San Jose District. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

Mission San Jose District 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 Mission San Jose District. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mission San Jose District:

  • Alameda County     (The home county of Mission San Jose District)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.
    • Fremont
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Sunol
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Scotts Corner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Scotts Corner is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Corner
    • Albrae ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Albrae is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albrae
    • Drawbridge ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Drawbridge is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawbridge
      • Former name for Drawbridge:
      • Saline City
    • Larkins Landing ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Larkins Landing is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkins Landing
    • Newark
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Union City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Alvarado ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Alvarado is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
    • Dublin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Fairview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairview is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Hayward
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Contra Costa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.
    • San Ramon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Tassajara
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Tassajara is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tassajara
    • Blackhawk - Camino Tassajara
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Blackhawk
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Blackhawk is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
    • Danville
      (20 miles [32.2 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
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Rock City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Rock City is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
    • Alamo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Moraga
      (23 miles [37 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
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Marsh Creek Springs is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Creek Springs
    • Lafayette
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Byron
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Orinda
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Orinda is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orinda
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19,557 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Orinda <1>
  • San Joaquin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.
    • Carnegie ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 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 northeast)
      • Ellis is located in San Joaquin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
    • Tracy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • 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 northeast)
      • 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 Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.
    • East Palo Alto
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • The Willows
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • 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 west)
    • North Fair Oaks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • North Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fair Oaks
    • West Menlo Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Atherton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Ladera
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Ladera is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladera
    • Redwood City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • San Carlos
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Searsville ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Searsville is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsville
    • Emerald Lake Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Emerald Lake Hills is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Lake Hills
    • Foster City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Woodside
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Santa Clara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.
    • Alviso
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Milpitas
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Agnew
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
    • East Foothills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • East Foothills is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Foothills
    • Santa Clara
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Alum Rock
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Alum Rock is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alum Rock
    • San Jose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • San Jose is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Jose
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013,616 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for San Jose <1>
    • Castro City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Castro City is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castro City
    • Mountain View
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Palo Alto
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunnyvale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Buena Vista
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Buena Vista is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Burbank
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Burbank is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
  • Santa Cruz County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.
    • Alma ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Alma is located in Santa Cruz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
    • Summit
      (27 miles [43.5 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
    • Laurel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Laurel is located in Santa Cruz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
    • Glenwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Glenwood is located in Santa Cruz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
    • The Willows
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • The Willows is located in Santa Cruz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
    • Boulder Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Lompico
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Lompico is located in Santa Cruz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lompico

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

Cemeteries Near Mission San Jose District ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mission San Jose District.

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 Mission San Jose District - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.

  • Mission San Jose Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ohlone Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Ohlones Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Irvington Memorial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Cedar Lawn Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 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>
  • Presbyterian Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Holy Ghost Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • St. Johns Catholic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Pleasanton Memorial Gardens Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (54 more) ...
    • Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Dublin Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is located in Alum Rock.

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 Mission San Jose District in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mission San Jose District.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Mission San Jose District, with the one closest to Mission San Jose District listed first.

  • Sunol
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Newark
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Alviso
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Milpitas
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Agnew
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
  • Pleasanton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Alvarado ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Alvarado is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
  • Berryessa
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Berryessa is located in Santa Clara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryessa
  • Lawrence
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Lawrence is located in Santa Clara County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
  • Santa Clara
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Palo Alto
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Mountain View
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • College Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • College Park is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Park
    • San Jose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • San Jose is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Jose
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013,616 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for San Jose <1>
    • Livermore
      (13 miles [20.9 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 Mission San Jose District. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mission San Jose District.

Newspapers Published in Mission San Jose District ...

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 165 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mission San Jose District.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mission San Jose District, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mission San Jose District.

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 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 Mission San Jose District:

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 Mission San Jose District, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Mission San Jose District) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.