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 Polk Springs (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 Polk Springs. 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 Polk Springs ...
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 Polk Springs: Polk Spgs. (or less commonly used: Polk Spngs. or Polk Sprngs.)
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
Polk Springs is located in Tehama 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 Tehama County: Butte, Glenn, Mendocino, Plumas, Shasta & Trinity.
Below are the counties that are near Polk Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Polk Springs:
- Tehama County (The home county of Polk Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk Springs, with the one closest to Polk Springs listed first.
- Dantuma Place
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Dantuma Place is located in Tehama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dantuma Place
- Mineral
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Mill Creek
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Paynes Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Los Molinos
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Manton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Vina
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Dales
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Dales is located in Tehama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dales
- Gerber
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Tehama
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Proberta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rawson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rawson is located in Tehama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawson
- Bend
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Bend is located in Tehama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bend
- Butte County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk Springs, with the one closest to Polk Springs listed first.
- Butte Meadows
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Inskip ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Inskip is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inskip
- Powellton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Powellton is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Forest Ranch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Forest Ranch is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Ranch
- Stirling City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- De Sabla
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- De Sabla is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Sabla
- Nimshew
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Nimshew is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimshew
- Paradise Pines
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Paradise Pines is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Pines
- Irish Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Irish Town is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irish Town
- Magalia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Paradise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Big Bar
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Big Bar is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bar
- Pulga
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Lassen County
- Peninsula Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Peninsula Village is located in Lassen County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peninsula Village
- Plumas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk Springs, with the one closest to Polk Springs listed first.
- Longville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Longville is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longville
- Storrie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tobin
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tobin is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobin
- Belden
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Lake Almanor West
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lake Almanor West is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Almanor West
- Lake Almanor West has also been known as:
- Almanor West
- Caribou
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Caribou is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caribou
- Rich Bar ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Rich Bar is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rich Bar
- Chester
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Prattville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Lake Almanor Country Club
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Lake Almanor Peninsula
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Peninsula Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Bucks Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bucks Lake is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks Lake
- Shasta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polk Springs, with the one closest to Polk Springs listed first.
- Viola ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Viola is located in Shasta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Shingletown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Manzanita Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Manzanita Lake is located in Shasta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita Lake
- Midway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Midway is located in Shasta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Polk Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Polk Springs.
Cemeteries Near Polk Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Polk Springs.
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 Polk Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Polk Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Polk Springs, with the one closest to Polk Springs listed first.
- Butte Meadows Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Inskip Pioneer Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cohasset Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Forest Ranch Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cameron - Davis Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Coutolenc Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Vina Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vina Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Vina Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the northeast of Vina.
- The Vina Cemetery has also been known as:
- Carter Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7884 <3>
- Nicholl Cemetery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Centerville Cemetery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Skyway Memorial Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Humbug Valley Cemetery
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Humbug Valley Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Humbug Valley Cemetery is located 10 miles [16.1 km]<2> to the south of Chester.
- The Humbug Valley Cemetery has also been known as:
- Dotta Cemetery
- Dotta Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2192289 <3>
- Pine Creek Cemetery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Creek Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Pine Creek Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 11 miles [17.7 km]<2> to the northwest of Chico.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8268 <3>
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Paradise Cemetery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Paradise Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Paradise.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #158628 <3>
- Chester Cemetery
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Chester Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the southwest of Chester.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1976711 <3>
- Tehama Cemetery
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tehama Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Tehama Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located less than 2 miles<2> to the west of Tehama.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8399 <3>
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>
While we didn't find Polk Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Polk Springs.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Polk Springs, with the one closest to Polk Springs listed first.
- Butte Meadows
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Inskip ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Inskip is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inskip
- Lyonsville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lyonsville is located in Tehama County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyonsville
- Powellton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Powellton is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powellton
- Forest Ranch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Forest Ranch is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Ranch
- Lovelock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Lovelock is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovelock
- Nimshew
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Nimshew is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nimshew
- Paynes Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Magalia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Longville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Longville is located in Plumas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longville
- Vina
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Paradise
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Continue List (12 more) ...
- Manton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tehama
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Cana
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cana is located in Butte County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cana
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Polk Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Polk Springs.
Newspapers Published in Polk Springs ...
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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around Polk Springs.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Polk Springs, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Polk Springs.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Polk Springs:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Tehama County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butte County
- Lassen County
- Plumas County
- Shasta 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Polk Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Polk Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |