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 Pierce (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 Pierce. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Pierce is located in Solano 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 Solano County: Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, Sonoma & Yolo.
Below are the counties that are near Pierce. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pierce:
- Solano County (The home county of Pierce)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Benicia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Suisun City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Suisun City is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suisun City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 29,305 people
- Suisun City has also been known as:
- Suisun
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Suisun City <1>
- Vallejo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Fairfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Green Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mare Island ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Mare Island is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
- Guadalcanal Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village
- Mankas Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Mankas Corner is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mankas Corner
- Birds Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Denverton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Denverton is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denverton
- Travis Field
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Travis Field is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Travis Field
- Cannon ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cannon is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
- Solano City ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Solano City is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solano City
- Alameda County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Albany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Normandy Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Normandy Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
- Rochedale Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rochedale Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rochedale Village
- University Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- University Village is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
- Canyon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Berkeley
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Montclair
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Montclair is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montclair
- Piedmont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- South Berkeley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Berkeley is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Berkeley
- Former name for South Berkeley:
- Lorin
- Emeryville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Laurel
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Laurel is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- West Oakland
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- West Oakland is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oakland
- Contra Costa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Avon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avon is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Port Chicago ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Port Chicago is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Chicago
- Martinez
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Clyde
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clyde is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Crockett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Port Costa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain View
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mountain View is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain View
- Vine Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Vine Hill is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Hill
- Valona
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Valona is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valona
- Pacheco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Tormey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tormey is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tormey
- Concord
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bay Point
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Marin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Black Point - Green Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- San Quentin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ignacio
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Ignacio is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ignacio
- Rafael Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Rafael Village is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rafael Village
- Santa Venetia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Santa Venetia is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Venetia
- Fort McDowell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
- Paradise Cay
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Paradise Cay is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Cay
- San Rafael
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cerro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cerro is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerro
- Novato
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Old Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Old Town is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Terra Linda
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Terra Linda is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terra Linda
- Bel Aire
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bel Aire is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bel Aire
- Napa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Lombard
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lombard is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lombard
- American Canyon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Middleton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Middleton is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Suscol ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Suscol is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suscol
- Suscol has also been known as:
- Soscol
- Susqual
- Napa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Merazo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Merazo is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merazo
- Union
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Union is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Yountville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Redbud Park ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Redbud Park is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redbud Park
- Oakville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rutherford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Spanish Flat
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sacramento County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Isleton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ryde
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- San Francisco County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Chinatown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
- Sydney Town ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
- Amanico Ergina Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
- Friendship Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
- Mission District
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mission District is located in San Francisco County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
- San Francisco
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Sonoma County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- McGill
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- McGill is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGill
- Wingo ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Wingo is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingo
- Sears Point
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Sears Point is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sears Point
- Vineburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sonoma
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Temelec
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Temelec is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temelec
- Boyes Hot Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- El Verano
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fetters Hot Springs - Agua Caliente
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lakeville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Lakeville is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- Eldridge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Glen Ellen
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Petaluma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Yolo County
- Winters
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pierce, see our County-by-County Page for Pierce.
Cemeteries Near Pierce ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pierce.
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 Pierce - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pierce covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Benicia City Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benicia City Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Benicia City Cemetery is located in Benicia.
- St. Dominics Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Military Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Carquinez Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carquinez Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Carquinez Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Vallejo.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7883 <2>
- All Souls Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for All Souls Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the All Souls Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Vallejo.
- The All Souls Cemetery has also been known as:
- All Souls Catholic Cemetery
- St. Vincents Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Vincents Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Vincents Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Vallejo.
- The St. Vincents Cemetery has also been known as:
- St. Vincent Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8342 <2>
- Alhambra Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alhambra Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Alhambra Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Martinez.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7834 <2>
- Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Memory Gardens Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rockville Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Sunrise Memorial Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hillside Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (56 more) ...
- Old Hillside Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Suisun - Fairfield Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Water Front Memorial Park
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
While we didn't find Pierce in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Pierce.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pierce, with the one closest to Pierce listed first.
- Teal
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Teal is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teal
- Benicia
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cordelia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Cordelia is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordelia
- Avon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avon is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Crockett
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Port Costa
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Martinez
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Suisun City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Suisun City is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suisun City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 29,305 people
- Suisun City has also been known as:
- Suisun
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Suisun City <1>
- Creston
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Creston is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creston
- Flosden ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Flosden is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flosden
- Vallejo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Selby
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Selby is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selby
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Tormey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tormey is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tormey
- Pacheco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- McAvoy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- McAvoy is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McAvoy
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pierce. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pierce.
Newspapers Published in Pierce ...
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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pierce.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pierce, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pierce.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Pierce:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Solano County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
- Marin County
- Napa County
- Sacramento County
- San Francisco County
- Sonoma County
- Yolo 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 Pierce, 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- Pierce) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |