RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of California >> Sierra County >> Scales >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Scales. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Scales to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Scales, please Contact Us.

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 Scales (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 Scales. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Scales is historic, it would have been located within present day 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 Scales. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Scales:

  • Sierra County     (The home county of Scales)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scales, with the one closest to Scales listed first.
    • Brandy City ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Brandy City is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brandy City
    • Queen City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Queen City is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Queen City
    • Goodyears Bar
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Downieville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Gibsonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Gibsonville is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonville
    • Poker Flat
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Poker Flat is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poker Flat
    • Forest
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
    • Alleghany
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Loganville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Loganville is located in Sierra County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loganville
    • Sierra City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Calpine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Sattley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Butte County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scales, with the one closest to Scales listed first.
    • Clipper Mills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Oroleve
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Oroleve is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oroleve
    • Lumpkin ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Lumpkin is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumpkin
    • Feather Falls
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Evansville ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Evansville is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
    • Forbestown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Robinson Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Robinson Mill is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson Mill
    • Brush Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Brush Creek is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brush Creek
    • Merrimac
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Merrimac is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrimac
    • Berry Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • South Fork ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • South Fork is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Fork
    • Bidwell Bar ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bidwell Bar is located in Butte County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bidwell Bar
  • Nevada County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scales, with the one closest to Scales listed first.
    • North Columbia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • North Columbia is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Columbia
    • Lake City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Lake City is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • North Bloomfield ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • North Bloomfield is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bloomfield
    • North San Juan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Graniteville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Graniteville is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graniteville
    • Marsh Mill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Marsh Mill is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsh Mill
    • Blue Tent
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Blue Tent is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Tent
    • Washington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Birchville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Birchville is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birchville
    • Nevada City Rancheria
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Scotts Flat
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Scotts Flat is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotts Flat
    • Bridgeport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Bridgeport is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
  • Placer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scales, with the one closest to Scales listed first.
    • Emigrant Gap
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Alta
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Dutch Flat
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Gold Run
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Casa Loma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Casa Loma is located in Placer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Casa Loma
  • Plumas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Scales, with the one closest to Scales listed first.
    • La Porte
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Little Grass Valley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Little Grass Valley is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Grass Valley
    • Plumas Eureka
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Plumas Eureka is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumas Eureka
    • Johnsville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bucks Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bucks Lake is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks Lake
    • Meadow Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Mohawk
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Mohawk is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk
    • East Quincy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • East Quincy is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Quincy
    • Quincy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Blairsden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Graeagle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Spring Garden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring Garden is located in Plumas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Garden
  • Shasta County
    • Bear Valley ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 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 Scales, with the one closest to Scales listed first.
    • Strawberry Valley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Depot Hill ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Depot Hill is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Depot Hill
    • Camptonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Garden Valley ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Garden Valley is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Valley
    • Foster Bar ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Foster Bar is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster Bar
    • Bullards Bar ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bullards Bar is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullards Bar
    • Challenge
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Brownsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Dobbins
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Rackerby
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Oregon House
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Loma Rica
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Loma Rica is located in Yuba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loma Rica

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

Cemeteries Near Scales ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Scales.

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 Scales - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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.

Scales itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 217 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • La Porte
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Strawberry Valley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Goodyears Bar
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Louis
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Louis is located in Sierra County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Louis
  • Clipper Mills
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Downieville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Camptonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Pike
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Pike is located in Sierra County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pike
    • Pike has also been known as:
    • Pike City
  • Gibsonville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Gibsonville is located in Sierra County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibsonville
  • Alleghany
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lumpkin ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Lumpkin is located in Butte County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lumpkin
  • Bullards Bar ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Bullards Bar is located in Yuba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullards Bar
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Moore's Flat
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Moore's Flat is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore's Flat
    • Forbestown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • North Columbia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • North Columbia is located in Nevada County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Columbia

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

Newspapers Published in Scales ...

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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Scales.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Scales, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Scales.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Scales:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Scales, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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>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- Scales) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.