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 Rafael (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 Rafael. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Mission San Rafael is located in Marin 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 Marin County: Contra Costa, San Francisco & Sonoma.
Below are the counties that are near Mission San Rafael. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mission San Rafael:
- Marin County (The home county of Mission San Rafael)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- San Rafael
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Cerro
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Cerro is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerro
- Santa Venetia
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Santa Venetia is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Venetia
- Greenbrae
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ross
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Terra Linda
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Terra Linda is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terra Linda
- Corte Madera
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Larkspur
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Kentfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- San Anselmo
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- San Quentin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfax
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Alameda County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Albany
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- University Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- University Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Berkeley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Normandy Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Normandy Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
- Campbell Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Campbell Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Village
- Emeryville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rochedale Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rochedale Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochedale Village
- South Berkeley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Berkeley is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Berkeley
- Former name for South Berkeley:
- Lorin
- West Oakland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oakland
- Oakland
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Piedmont
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Brooklyn ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brooklyn is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
- Former names for Brooklyn:
- Antonio
- Clinton
- Contra Costa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Atchison Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Atchison Village is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atchison Village
- Point Richmond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Nystrom Village
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Nystrom Village is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nystrom Village
- Richmond
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- San Pablo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sobrante
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sobrante is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sobrante
- Easter Hill Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Easter Hill Village is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easter Hill Village
- Rollingwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Rollingwood is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollingwood
- Bayview
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bayview is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
- East Richmond Heights
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- East Richmond Heights is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Richmond Heights
- Gateley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Gateley is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gateley
- Tara Hills
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Tara Hills is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Hills
- Napa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Merazo
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Merazo is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merazo
- American Canyon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lombard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lombard is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lombard
- Middleton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Middleton is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Suscol ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Suscol is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suscol
- Suscol has also been known as:
- Soscol
- Susqual
- Napa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Union is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- San Francisco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Amanico Ergina Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
- Chinatown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
- Sydney Town ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
- Doelger City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
- Friendship Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
- San Francisco
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Golden Gate Heights
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
- Mission District
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Mission District is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
- Stonestown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- 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 Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Broadmoor Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Broadmoor Village is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor Village
- Broadmoor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Broadmoor is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor
- Daly City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Westlake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Westlake is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
- Colma
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Brisbane
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- South San Francisco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Fairway Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Fairway Park is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairway Park
- Pacifica
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- San Bruno
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Millbrae
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Burlingame
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Solano County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Guadalcanal Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village
- Mare Island ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mare Island is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
- Vallejo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Benicia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Green Valley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sonoma County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Sears Point
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Sears Point is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sears Point
- Lakeville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lakeville is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- McGill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- McGill is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGill
- Wingo ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Wingo is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingo
- Petaluma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Temelec
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Temelec is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temelec
- Vineburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- El Verano
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ely ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Ely is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Sonoma
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Boyes Hot Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Penngrove
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mission San Rafael, see our County-by-County Page for Mission San Rafael.
Cemeteries Near Mission San Rafael ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mission San Rafael.
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 Rafael - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mission San Rafael covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- Mission San Rafael Arcangel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Mt. Olivet Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Olivet Cemetery
- The Mt. Olivet Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8177 <2>
- Fernwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
- The St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
- Holy Angels / St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
- Holy Angels Cemetery
- St. Joseph Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8327 <2>
- Valley Memorial Park
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Rolling Hills Memorial Park
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Taylors Grave Site
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- San Francisco National Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Francisco National Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the San Francisco National Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in San Francisco.
- The San Francisco National Cemetery has also been known as:
- Post Cemetery
- Presidio Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8344 <2>
- Sunset View Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Yerba Buena Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Olema Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Continue List (68 more) ...
- Water Front Memorial Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hillside Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Old Hillside Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
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 Rafael in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Mission San Rafael.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mission San Rafael, with the one closest to Mission San Rafael listed first.
- San Rafael
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ross
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Greenbrae
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Larkspur
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Corte Madera
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- San Anselmo
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- San Quentin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfax
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mill Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Alto
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Alto is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
- Manzanita
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Manzanita is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita
- Hilarita
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hilarita is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilarita
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Ignacio
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ignacio is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ignacio
- Tiburon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sausalito
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mission San Rafael. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mission San Rafael.
Newspapers Published in Mission San Rafael ...
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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mission San Rafael.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mission San Rafael, 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 Mission San Rafael.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Mission San Rafael:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Marin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
- Napa County
- San Francisco County
- San Mateo 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 Mission San Rafael, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Mission San Rafael) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |