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 Sonoma Vista (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 Sonoma Vista. 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 Sonoma Vista ...
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 Sonoma Vista: Sonoma Vis.
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.
Sonoma Vista is located in Sonoma 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 Sonoma County: Contra Costa, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa & Solano.
Below are the counties that are near Sonoma Vista. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sonoma Vista:
- Sonoma County (The home county of Sonoma Vista)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma Vista, with the one closest to Sonoma Vista listed first.
- Boyes Hot Springs
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Fetters Hot Springs - Agua Caliente
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- El Verano
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Eldridge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Glen Ellen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Temelec
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Temelec is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temelec
- Sonoma
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vineburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Kenwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Lakeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lakeville is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- McGill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- McGill is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGill
- Ely ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ely is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Penngrove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Contra Costa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma Vista, with the one closest to Sonoma Vista listed first.
- Tormey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tormey is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tormey
- Sobrante
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sobrante is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sobrante
- Bayview
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bayview is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayview
- Gateley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Gateley is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gateley
- Hercules
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Rodeo
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Valona
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Valona is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valona
- Crockett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pinole
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tara Hills
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Tara Hills is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tara Hills
- El Sobrante
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Port Costa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rollingwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Rollingwood is located in Contra Costa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollingwood
- Marin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma Vista, with the one closest to Sonoma Vista listed first.
- Black Point - Green Point
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Novato
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Old Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Old Town is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Ignacio
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Ignacio is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ignacio
- Rafael Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Rafael Village is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rafael Village
- Nicasio
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cerro
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Cerro is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cerro
- Santa Venetia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Santa Venetia is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Venetia
- Terra Linda
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Terra Linda is located in Marin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terra Linda
- Woodacre
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Tomales
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Fairfax
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Forest Knolls
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Napa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma Vista, with the one closest to Sonoma Vista listed first.
- Merazo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Merazo is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merazo
- Union
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Union is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Oakville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yountville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Napa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Rutherford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Suscol ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Suscol is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suscol
- Suscol has also been known as:
- Soscol
- Susqual
- Saint Helena
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Deer Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Middleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Middleton is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- American Canyon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lombard
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lombard is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lombard
- Angwin
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Solano County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sonoma Vista, with the one closest to Sonoma Vista listed first.
- Guadalcanal Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village
- Green Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Mare Island ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mare Island is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
- Vallejo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Mankas Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Mankas Corner is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mankas Corner
- Fairfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Suisun City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Suisun City is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suisun City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 29,305 people
- Suisun City has also been known as:
- Suisun
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Suisun City <1>
- Benicia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vacaville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cannon ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Cannon is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannon
- Leisure Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Leisure Town is located in Solano County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Town
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sonoma Vista, see our County-by-County Page for Sonoma Vista.
Cemeteries Near Sonoma Vista ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sonoma Vista.
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 Sonoma Vista - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sonoma Vista covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sonoma Vista, with the one closest to Sonoma Vista listed first.
- Eldridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldridge Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Eldridge Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Eldridge.
- Valley Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. Francis Solano Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Mountain Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Thompson Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Brothers of the Christian Schools Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Partrick Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Partrick Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Partrick Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the northwest of Napa.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2433832 <2>
- Napa Redwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napa Redwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Napa Redwood Cemetery is located 8 miles [12.9 km]<3> to the northwest of Napa.
- The Napa Redwood Cemetery has also been known as:
- Redwood Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8299 <2>
- Cypress Hill Memorial Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- B'nai Israel Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Petaluma Calvary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Dry Creek Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dry Creek Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Dry Creek Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the northwest of Union.
- The Dry Creek Cemetery has also been known as:
- Broadhurst - Gridley Cemetery
- Stephen Broadhust Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2238593 <2>
- Continue List (80 more) ...
- Veterans Home Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Veterans Home Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Veterans Home Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Yountville.
- The Veterans Home Cemetery has also been known as:
- California State Veterans Home Cemetery
- Veterans Memorial Grove Cemetery
- Yountville Veterans Home Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1962430 <2>
- Liberty Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pythian Home Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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.<4>
While we didn't find Sonoma Vista in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sonoma Vista.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sonoma Vista, with the one closest to Sonoma Vista listed first.
- Madrone ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Madrone is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madrone
- Yulupa ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Yulupa is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yulupa
- Glen Ellen
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Sonoma
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Buena Vista
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Buena Vista is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Schellville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Schellville is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schellville
- Wildwood ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Wildwood is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Lakeville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Lakeville is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
- Ely ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Ely is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ely
- Petaluma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Donahue ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Donahue is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Donahue
- McGill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- McGill is located in Sonoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGill
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Penngrove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Merazo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Merazo is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merazo
- Oak Knoll
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Oak Knoll is located in Napa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Knoll
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sonoma Vista. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sonoma Vista.
Newspapers Published in Sonoma Vista ...
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 46 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sonoma Vista.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sonoma Vista, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sonoma Vista.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Sonoma Vista:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Sonoma County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Contra Costa County
- Marin County
- Napa County
- Solano 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sonoma Vista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <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 Sonoma Vista, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |