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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 Val Verde (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 Val Verde. 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.

Val Verde is located in Riverside 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 Riverside County: La Paz (AZ), Imperial, Orange, San Bernardino & San Diego.

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

  • Riverside County     (The home county of Val Verde)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Val Verde, with the one closest to Val Verde listed first.
    • March Field
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • March Field is located in Riverside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for March Field
    • Perris
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Perris is located in Riverside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perris
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 79,011 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Perris <1>
    • Moreno Valley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Nuevo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodcrest
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Woodcrest is located in Riverside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodcrest
    • Lakeview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Lakeview is located in Riverside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
    • Meadowbrook
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Meadowbrook is located in Riverside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Romoland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Bannockburn Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bannockburn Village is located in Riverside County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bannockburn Village
    • Quail Valley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Riverside
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Canyon Lake
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Menifee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Val Verde, with the one closest to Val Verde listed first.
    • Beeks Place ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Beeks Place is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beeks Place
    • Silverado Canyon ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Silverado Canyon is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverado Canyon
    • Modjeska
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Modjeska is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modjeska
    • Trabuco Canyon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Silverado
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Portola Hills
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Portola Hills is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portola Hills
    • Rancho Santa Margarita
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Trabuco Highlands
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Trabuco Highlands is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trabuco Highlands
    • Coto de Caza
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Foothill Ranch
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Las Flores
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Las Flores is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Las Flores
    • Lake Forest
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Anaheim Hills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • San Bernardino County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Val Verde, with the one closest to Val Verde listed first.
    • Bryn Mawr
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Grand Terrace
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Loma Linda
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Mound City ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Mound City is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
    • Plymouth Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Plymouth Village is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plymouth Village
    • Redlands
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Redlands is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redlands
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 72,271 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Redlands <1>
    • Colton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Colton is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,661 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colton <1>
    • Lugonia ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Lugonia is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lugonia
    • Marigold
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Marigold is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marigold
    • University Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • University Village is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Village
    • West Colton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • West Colton is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Colton
    • Eastbern ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Eastbern is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastbern
    • Mentone
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • San Diego County
    • Rainbow
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Rainbow is located in San Diego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainbow

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

Cemeteries Near Val Verde ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Val Verde.

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 Val Verde - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Riverside National Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Perris Valley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Menifee Valley Memorial Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Olivewood Memorial Park
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Elsinore Valley Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Evergreen Memorial Park
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Montecito Memorial Park
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Green Acres Memorial Park
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (31 more) ...
    • Wildomar Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Hermosa Gardens Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermosa Gardens Cemetery
      • The Hermosa Gardens Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Colton Cemetery
      • Hermosa Cemetery
      • Hermosa Memorial Gardens
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #8022 <3>
    • Mountain View Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)

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

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

  • Riverside
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Mound City ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Mound City is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
  • Redlands
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Redlands is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redlands
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 72,271 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Redlands <1>
  • Colton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Colton is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,661 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colton <1>
  • Lugonia ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Lugonia is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lugonia
  • Victoria
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Victoria is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
  • Eastbern ‑ Historic
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Eastbern is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastbern
  • Mentone
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Declezville
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Declezville is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Declezville
  • San Bernardino
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Murrieta
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Rialto
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Rialto is located in San Bernardino County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rialto
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 104,132 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rialto <1>
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Declez
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Declez is located in San Bernardino County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Declez
    • Banning
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Modjeska
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Modjeska is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Modjeska

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

Newspapers Published in Val Verde ...

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 104 newspapers that have been published in the area around Val Verde.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Val Verde, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Val Verde.

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 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 Val Verde:

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Val Verde) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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>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 Val Verde, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.