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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

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

We've added Sydney Town to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Sydney Town, 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 Sydney Town (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 Sydney Town. 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 hospitals and 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Sydney Town is historic, it would have been located within present day San Francisco County.

To see how the shape of California's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Below are the counties that are near Sydney Town. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sydney Town:

  • San Francisco County     (The home county of Sydney Town)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Chinatown
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Chinatown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chinatown
    • Friendship Village
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Friendship Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship Village
    • Mission District
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Mission District is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mission District
    • Amanico Ergina Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Amanico Ergina Village is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanico Ergina Village
    • San Francisco
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Golden Gate Heights
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Golden Gate Heights is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Gate Heights
    • Doelger City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Doelger City is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doelger City
    • Stonestown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Stonestown is located in San Francisco County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonestown
  • Alameda County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Campbell Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Campbell Village is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Village
    • Emeryville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • West Oakland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • West Oakland is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oakland
    • Oakland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Brooklyn ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Brooklyn is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
      • Former names for Brooklyn:
      • Antonio
      • Clinton
    • Albany
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Berkeley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • South Berkeley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • South Berkeley is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Berkeley
      • Former name for South Berkeley:
      • Lorin
    • University Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • University Village is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
    • Alameda
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • East Oakland ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • East Oakland is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
    • Normandy Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Normandy Village is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
  • Contra Costa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Point Richmond
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Atchison Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Atchison Village is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atchison Village
    • Easter Hill Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Easter Hill Village is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easter Hill Village
    • Nystrom Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Nystrom Village is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nystrom Village
    • El Cerrito
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Richmond
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Richmond is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 110,038 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Richmond <2>
    • Kensington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • San Pablo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • East Richmond Heights
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • East Richmond Heights is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Richmond Heights
    • Rollingwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Rollingwood is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollingwood
    • Orinda Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Orinda Village is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orinda Village
    • El Sobrante
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Marin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Fort McDowell
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Fort McDowell is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort McDowell
    • Belvedere
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sausalito
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Tiburon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Marin City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Marin City is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marin City
    • Bel Aire
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bel Aire is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bel Aire
    • Manzanita
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Manzanita is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita
    • Paradise Cay
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Paradise Cay is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Cay
    • Strawberry
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Strawberry is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strawberry
    • Tamalpais - Homestead Valley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Mill Valley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Muir Beach
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Napa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • American Canyon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Lombard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Lombard is located in Napa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lombard
    • Merazo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Merazo is located in Napa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merazo
    • Middleton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Middleton is located in Napa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
  • San Mateo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Brisbane
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Colma
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Colma is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,689 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colma <2>
    • Broadmoor Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Broadmoor Village is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor Village
    • Broadmoor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Broadmoor is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor
    • Daly City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Westlake
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Westlake is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westlake
    • South San Francisco
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • San Bruno
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Fairway Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Fairway Park is located in San Mateo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairway Park
    • Pacifica
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Millbrae
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Burlingame
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Santa Clara County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Escondido Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Escondido Village is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Escondido Village
    • Palo Alto
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Stanford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Ventura
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Ventura is located in Santa Clara County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ventura
  • Solano County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Mare Island ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Mare Island is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mare Island
    • Guadalcanal Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Guadalcanal Village is located in Solano County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guadalcanal Village
    • Vallejo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Benicia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Sonoma County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sydney Town, with the one closest to Sydney Town listed first.
    • Sears Point
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Sears Point is located in Sonoma County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sears Point
    • McGill
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • McGill is located in Sonoma County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McGill
    • Lakeville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Lakeville is located in Sonoma County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeville
    • Wingo ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Wingo is located in Sonoma County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wingo

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

Cemeteries Near Sydney Town ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sydney Town.

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 Sydney Town - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Yerba Buena Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • San Francisco National Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Francisco National Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the San Francisco National Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in San Francisco.
    • The San Francisco National Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Post Cemetery
    • Presidio Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8344 <3>
  • Woodlawn Memorial Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Greenlawn Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Japanese Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Italian Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Olivet Memorial Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Salem Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Cypress Lawn Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Lawn Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Cypress Lawn Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Colma.
    • The Cypress Lawn Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7927 <3>
  • Hills of Eternity Memorial Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Home of Peace Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Serbian Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Serbian Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Serbian Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Colma.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8362 <3>
  • Continue List   (63 more) ...
    • Golden Hill Memorial Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Colma.
      • The Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Holy Cross Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8038 <3>
    • Hoy Sun Memorial Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

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.

While we didn't find Sydney Town in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Sydney Town.

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

  • San Francisco
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • West Oakland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • West Oakland is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Oakland
  • Emeryville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Tiburon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sausalito
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Oakland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • West Berkeley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • West Berkeley is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Berkeley
  • Hilarita
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Hilarita is located in Marin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilarita
  • Brooklyn ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Brooklyn is located in Alameda County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooklyn
    • Former names for Brooklyn:
    • Antonio
    • Clinton
  • Berkeley
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Manzanita
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Manzanita is located in Marin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manzanita
  • Alameda
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • East Oakland ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • East Oakland is located in Alameda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Oakland
    • Stege
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Stege is located in Contra Costa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stege
    • Alto
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Alto is located in Marin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto

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

Newspapers Published in Sydney Town ...

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 123 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sydney Town.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sydney Town, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sydney Town.

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 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 Sydney Town:

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