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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 Russell City (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 Russell City. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Russell City 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 Russell City. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Russell City:

  • Alameda County     (The home county of Russell City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.
    • Mount Eden
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • San Lorenzo
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Cherryland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cherryland is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryland
    • Hayward
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Ashland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Castro Valley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Alvarado ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Alvarado is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
    • Fairview
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Fairview is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • San Leandro
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Brookfield Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookfield Village is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield Village
    • Union City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Havenscourt
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Havenscourt is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Havenscourt
    • Alameda
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Contra Costa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.
    • Moraga
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • San Ramon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Danville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Alamo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Orinda
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Diablo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lafayette
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Orinda Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Orinda Village is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orinda Village
    • Blackhawk - Camino Tassajara
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Blackhawk
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Blackhawk is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackhawk
    • Rock City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock City is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock City
    • Tassajara
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Tassajara is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tassajara
    • Walnut Creek
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Marin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.
    • Fort McDowell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
    • Belvedere
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Sausalito
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Tiburon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Marin City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Marin City is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marin City
    • Paradise Cay
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Paradise Cay is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Cay
    • Bel Aire
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bel Aire is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bel Aire
    • Manzanita
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Manzanita is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita
    • Strawberry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Strawberry is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
    • San Quentin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Tamalpais - Homestead Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Corte Madera
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Mill Valley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • San Francisco County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.
    • Chinatown
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
    • Mission District
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Mission District is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
    • San Francisco
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Sydney Town ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sydney Town is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydney Town
    • Amanico Ergina Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
    • Friendship Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
    • Golden Gate Heights
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
    • Stonestown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
    • Doelger City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
  • San Mateo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.
    • Foster City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • East Palo Alto
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • North Fair Oaks
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • North Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fair Oaks
    • Belmont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Burlingame
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Laurel
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Laurel is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
    • Redwood City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • San Carlos
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • San Mateo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Atherton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • The Willows
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • The Willows is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
    • Emerald Lake Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Emerald Lake Hills is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Lake Hills
    • Brisbane
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Santa Clara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.
    • Palo Alto
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Escondido Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Escondido Village is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escondido Village
    • Stanford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Ventura
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Ventura is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventura
    • Castro City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Castro City is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castro City
    • Alviso
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Los Altos Hills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Los Altos
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Mountain View
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Milpitas
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Loyola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Loyola is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyola
    • Sunnyvale
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Agnew
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
  • Solano County
    • Benicia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Russell City, see our County-by-County Page for Russell City.

Cemeteries Near Russell City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Russell City.

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 Russell City - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Russell City covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.

  • Mt. Eden Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • San Lorenzo Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • All Saints Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Lone Tree Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Evergreen Mausoleum
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Presbyterian Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Home of Peace Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (74 more) ...
    • Holy Ghost Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Dublin Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Irvington Memorial Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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 Russell City in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Russell City.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Russell City, with the one closest to Russell City listed first.

  • Mount Eden
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • San Lorenzo
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Alvarado ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Alvarado is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
  • San Leandro
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Seminary Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Seminary Park is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seminary Park
  • Melrose
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Melrose is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melrose
  • Newark
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Fruitvale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Fruitvale is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitvale
    • Former names for Fruitvale:
    • Brays
    • Fruit Vale
  • Alameda
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • East Oakland ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • East Oakland is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
  • Brooklyn ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brooklyn is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Former names for Brooklyn:
    • Antonio
    • Clinton
  • San Mateo
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Belmont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • San Carlos
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Redwood City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Russell City. See our List of 1890's Communities around Russell City.

Newspapers Published in Russell City ...

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 Russell City.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Russell City, 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 Russell City.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Russell City:

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 Russell City, 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- Russell City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.