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 San Tomas (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 San Tomas. 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.
San Tomas is located in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County: Alameda, Merced, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Cruz & Stanislaus.
Below are the counties that are near San Tomas. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to San Tomas:
- Santa Clara County (The home county of San Tomas)
- The following are listed by their distance from San Tomas, with the one closest to San Tomas listed first.
- Campbell
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Champagne Fountain
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Champagne Fountain is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champagne Fountain
- Cambrian Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Cambrian Park is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambrian Park
- Los Gatos
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Monte Sereno
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Saratoga
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Fruitdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fruitdale is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitdale
- Rancho Rinconada
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rancho Rinconada is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rancho Rinconada
- Buena Vista
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Buena Vista is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Burbank
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burbank is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burbank
- Cupertino
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lexington ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lexington is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
- Alameda County
- The following are listed by their distance from San Tomas, with the one closest to San Tomas listed first.
- Drawbridge ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Drawbridge is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drawbridge
- Former name for Drawbridge:
- Saline City
- Albrae ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Albrae is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albrae
- Larkins Landing ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Larkins Landing is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larkins Landing
- Newark
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fremont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Fremont is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 234,569 people
- Former names for Fremont:
- Centerville
- Irvington
- Mission San Jose
- Niles
- Warm Springs
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
- Scotts Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Scotts Corner is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Corner
- Sunol
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Union City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- 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>
- Alvarado ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Alvarado is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alvarado
- Mount Eden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pleasanton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Russell City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Russell City is located in Alameda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell City
- Monterey County
- The following are listed by their distance from San Tomas, with the one closest to San Tomas listed first.
- Pajaro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pajaro is located in Monterey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pajaro
- Las Lomas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Las Lomas is located in Monterey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Las Lomas
- Vega ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vega is located in Monterey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vega
- San Mateo County
- The following are listed by their distance from San Tomas, with the one closest to San Tomas listed first.
- Ladera
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ladera is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ladera
- East Palo Alto
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Portola Valley
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Menlo Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- The Willows
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- The Willows is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
- La Honda
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Menlo Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Searsville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Searsville is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Searsville
- Atherton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- North Fair Oaks
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- North Fair Oaks is located in San Mateo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fair Oaks
- Woodside
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Loma Mar
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Santa Cruz County
- The following are listed by their distance from San Tomas, with the one closest to San Tomas listed first.
- Alma ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Alma is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Summit
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Summit is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Summit has also been known as:
- Loma Prieta
- Glenwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Glenwood is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Laurel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Laurel is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- The Willows
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- The Willows is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Willows
- Lompico
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lompico is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lompico
- Zayante
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Zayante is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zayante
- Boulder Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eccles ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Eccles is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eccles
- Ben Lomond
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Brookdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Scotts Valley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to San Tomas, see our County-by-County Page for San Tomas.
Cemeteries Near San Tomas ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of San Tomas.
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 San Tomas - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for San Tomas covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from San Tomas, with the one closest to San Tomas listed first.
- Los Gatos Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Madronia Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Mission City Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Santa Clara Mission Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Gates of Heaven Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Old Mexican Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hidalgo Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hacienda Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calvary Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Calvary Cemetery is located in Alum Rock.
- St. Johns Catholic Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Alta Mesa Memorial Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (47 more) ...
- Cedar Lawn Memorial Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lawn Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Cedar Lawn Memorial Park is a large cemetery that is located in Fremont.
- The Cedar Lawn Memorial Park has also been known as:
- Cedar Lawn Memorial Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7892 <2>
- Felton Cemetery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felton Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Felton Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Felton.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #274025 <2>
- Holy Cross Cemetery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
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 San Tomas in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of San Tomas.
These communities are listed based on their distance from San Tomas, with the one closest to San Tomas listed first.
- Campbell
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Los Gatos
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Saratoga
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Guadalupe ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Guadalupe is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalupe
- Alamitos
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Alamitos is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamitos
- San Jose
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- College Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- College Park is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Park
- Santa Clara
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Greystone ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Greystone is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greystone
- Lawrence
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lawrence is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawrence
- Patchen
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Patchen is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patchen
- Agnew
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Agnew is located in Santa Clara County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Agnew
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Glenwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Glenwood is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Laurel
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Laurel is located in Santa Cruz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
- New Almaden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around San Tomas. See our List of 1890's Communities around San Tomas.
Newspapers Published in San Tomas ...
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 186 newspapers that have been published in the area around San Tomas.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of San Tomas, 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 San Tomas.
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 San Tomas:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Santa Clara County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alameda County
- Monterey County
- San Mateo County
- Santa Cruz 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 San Tomas, 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- San Tomas) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |