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 Valley Lake Ranchos (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 Valley Lake Ranchos. 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 Valley Lake Ranchos ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Valley Lake Ranchos: Valley Lk. Ranchos
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Valley Lake Ranchos is located in Madera 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 Madera County: Fresno, Mariposa, Merced & Mono.
Below are the counties that are near Valley Lake Ranchos. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Valley Lake Ranchos:
- Madera County (The home county of Valley Lake Ranchos)
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Lake Ranchos, with the one closest to Valley Lake Ranchos listed first.
- Madera Acres
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Madera Acres is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madera Acres
- Madera
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Berenda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Berenda is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berenda
- Parksdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Parksdale is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parksdale
- Parkwood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Parkwood is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Bonadelle Ranchos - Madera Ranchos
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Knowles Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Knowles Junction is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles Junction
- Raymond
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raymond is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- Knowles ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Knowles is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles
- La Vina
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- La Vina is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Vina
- Chowchilla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Yosemite Lakes Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Yosemite Lakes Park is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yosemite Lakes Park
- Yosemite Lakes Park has also been known as:
- Yosemite Lakes
- Fresno County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Lake Ranchos, with the one closest to Valley Lake Ranchos listed first.
- Herndon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Herndon is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Friant
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Barstow
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Barstow is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barstow
- Biola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Raco
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Raco is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raco
- Highway City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Highway City is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highway City
- Gordon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Gordon is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
- Pinedale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Muscatel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Muscatel is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscatel
- Floyd
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Floyd is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyd
- Pratton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Pratton is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pratton
- Rolinda
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Rolinda is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolinda
- Mariposa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Lake Ranchos, with the one closest to Valley Lake Ranchos listed first.
- Catheys Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bootjack
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bootjack is located in Mariposa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bootjack
- Mariposa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Bullion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Mount Bullion is located in Mariposa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Bullion
- Merced County
- The following are listed by their distance from Valley Lake Ranchos, with the one closest to Valley Lake Ranchos listed first.
- Le Grand
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Plainsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Plainsburg is located in Merced County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainsburg
- Athlone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Athlone is located in Merced County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athlone
- Planada
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Tuttle
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Tuttle is located in Merced County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuttle
- El Nido
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Merced
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Valley Lake Ranchos, see our County-by-County Page for Valley Lake Ranchos.
Cemeteries Near Valley Lake Ranchos ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Lake Ranchos.
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 Valley Lake Ranchos - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Valley Lake Ranchos covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Valley Lake Ranchos, with the one closest to Valley Lake Ranchos listed first.
- Arbor Vitae Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Borden's Chinese Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Raymond Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- New Hope Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Chowchilla Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chowchilla Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Chowchilla Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the southwest of Chowchilla.
- The Chowchilla Cemetery has also been known as:
- Chowchilla District Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7906 <2>
- Bethany Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Gwin Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gwin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Gwin Cemetery is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<3> to the northeast of Le Grand.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2415806 <2>
- White Rock Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Helm - Turner Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Winchell Cove Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Picayune Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pate Cemetery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (28 more) ...
- Winchell Cove Cemetery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchell Cove Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Winchell Cove Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Friant.
- Clovis Cemetery
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fine Gold Cemetery
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
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 Valley Lake Ranchos in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Lake Ranchos.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Valley Lake Ranchos, with the one closest to Valley Lake Ranchos listed first.
- Raymond
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raymond is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
- La Vina
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- La Vina is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Vina
- Knowles ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Knowles is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles
- Herndon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Herndon is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
- Muscatel
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Muscatel is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muscatel
- Ben Hur
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Ben Hur is located in Mariposa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Hur
- Plainsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Plainsburg is located in Merced County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainsburg
- Athlone
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Athlone is located in Merced County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athlone
- Grub Gulch ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Grub Gulch is located in Madera County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grub Gulch
- Continue List (6 more) ...
- Fresno
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Firebaugh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Letcher ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Letcher is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letcher
- Sentinel ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Sentinel is located in Fresno County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
- Auberry
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Mariposa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Valley Lake Ranchos. See our List of 1890's Communities around Valley Lake Ranchos.
Newspapers Published in Valley Lake Ranchos ...
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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Lake Ranchos.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Lake Ranchos, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Lake Ranchos.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Valley Lake Ranchos:
- Websites specific to California
- Pages specific to Madera County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fresno County
- Mariposa County
- Merced 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 'straight-line' (or 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- Valley Lake Ranchos) 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 Valley Lake Ranchos, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |