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 Plum Valley (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 Plum Valley. 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.
Name Variations for Plum Valley ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Plum Valley: Plum Vly. (or less commonly used: Plum Vally. or Plum Vlly.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Plum Valley. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Plum Valley.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 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.
Plum Valley is located in Sierra 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 Sierra County: Lassen, Nevada, Plumas, Yuba & Washoe (NV).
Below are the counties that are near Plum Valley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Plum Valley:
- Sierra County (The home county of Plum Valley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- Alleghany
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Forest
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Forest is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
- Goodyears Bar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Brandy City ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brandy City is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandy City
- Downieville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Queen City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Queen City is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
- Loganville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Loganville is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganville
- Poker Flat
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Poker Flat is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poker Flat
- Sierra City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Gibsonville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Gibsonville is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonville
- Sattley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Butte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- Clipper Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oroleve
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Oroleve is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oroleve
- Lumpkin ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lumpkin is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumpkin
- Evansville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Evansville is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Forbestown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Feather Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Robinson Mill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Robinson Mill is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Mill
- Bangor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- South Fork ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- South Fork is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Fork
- Brush Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Brush Creek is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
- Bidwell Bar ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Bidwell Bar is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell Bar
- Berry Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bidwell ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bidwell is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell
- Nevada County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- North Columbia
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Columbia is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Columbia
- Lake City
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lake City is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- North Bloomfield ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Bloomfield is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bloomfield
- Blue Tent
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Blue Tent is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Tent
- North San Juan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Washington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Graniteville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Graniteville is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graniteville
- Scotts Flat
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Scotts Flat is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Flat
- Nevada City Rancheria
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Birchville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Birchville is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchville
- Marsh Mill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Marsh Mill is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Mill
- Nevada City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Gold Flat
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gold Flat is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Flat
- Placer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- Dutch Flat
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Alta
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Emigrant Gap
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Gold Run
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Casa Loma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Casa Loma is located in Placer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casa Loma
- Secret Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Secret Town is located in Placer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Secret Town
- Chicago Park ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Chicago Park is located in Placer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicago Park
- Colfax
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Iowa Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Big Bend
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Big Bend is located in Placer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
- Weimar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Yankee Jims
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Yankee Jims is located in Placer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yankee Jims
- Last Chance ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Last Chance is located in Placer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Last Chance
- Plumas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- La Porte
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Little Grass Valley
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Little Grass Valley is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Grass Valley
- Johnsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Plumas Eureka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Plumas Eureka is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumas Eureka
- Clio
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Graeagle
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mohawk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mohawk is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk
- Valley Ranch
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Valley Ranch is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Ranch
- Whitehawk
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Whitehawk is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehawk
- Blairsden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- C-Road
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- C-Road is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for C-Road
- Mohawk Vista
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mohawk Vista is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk Vista
- Shasta County
- Bear Valley ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Valley is located in Shasta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Valley
- Yuba County
- The following are listed by their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- Camptonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Depot Hill ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Depot Hill is located in Yuba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Depot Hill
- Garden Valley ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Garden Valley is located in Yuba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
- Bullards Bar ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bullards Bar is located in Yuba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullards Bar
- Foster Bar ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Foster Bar is located in Yuba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Bar
- Strawberry Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Challenge
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Dobbins
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Brownsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Oregon House
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Rackerby
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Smartville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Timbuctoo ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Timbuctoo is located in Yuba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timbuctoo
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Plum Valley, see our County-by-County Page for Plum Valley.
Cemeteries Near Plum Valley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plum Valley.
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 Plum Valley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Plum Valley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- Pike City Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sleighville House Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Camptonville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Alleghany Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Forest City Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Brandy City Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Goodyears Bar Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Scales Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pioneer Grove Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Downieville Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Strawberry Valley Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (40 more) ...
- Pioneer Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Deer Creek Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Deer Creek Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Nevada City.
- The Deer Creek Cemetery has also been known as:
- New Odd Fellows Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2400769 <2>
- Forest View Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
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 Plum Valley in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Plum Valley.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Plum Valley, with the one closest to Plum Valley listed first.
- Pike
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Pike is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike
- Pike has also been known as:
- Pike City
- Camptonville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- North Columbia
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Columbia is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Columbia
- North Bloomfield ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Bloomfield is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bloomfield
- Moore's Flat
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Moore's Flat is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore's Flat
- Alleghany
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Goodyears Bar
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bullards Bar ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bullards Bar is located in Yuba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullards Bar
- North San Juan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Washington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Downieville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Scales ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Scales is located in Sierra County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scales
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Sweetland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sweetland is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweetland
- Graniteville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Graniteville is located in Nevada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graniteville
- Strawberry Valley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Plum Valley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Plum Valley.
Newspapers Published in Plum Valley ...
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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plum Valley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plum Valley, 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 Plum Valley.
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 Plum Valley:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Sierra County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butte County
- Nevada County
- Placer County
- Plumas County
- Shasta County
- Yuba 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 Plum Valley, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Plum Valley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |