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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

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

We've added Willow Glen to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Willow Glen, 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 Willow Glen (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 Willow Glen. 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 Willow Glen ...

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 have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Willow Glen: Willow Gln.

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.

Although our information shows that the community of Willow Glen is historic, it would have been located within present day Madera County.

To see how the shape of California's counties 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 Willow Glen. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Willow Glen:

  • Madera County     (The home county of Willow Glen)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
    • Coarsegold
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Yosemite Lakes Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yosemite Lakes Park
      • Yosemite Lakes Park is located in Madera County
      • Yosemite Lakes Park has also been known as:
      • Yosemite Lakes
    • O'Neals
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Oakhurst
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Knowles ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Knowles. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles
      • Knowles is located in Madera County
    • North Fork
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Ahwahnee
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Bass Lake
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Raymond
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
      • Raymond is located in Madera County
    • Yosemite Forks
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yosemite Forks
      • Yosemite Forks is located in Madera County
    • The Pines
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Pines
      • The Pines is located in Madera County
    • Wishon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wishon
      • Wishon is located in Madera County
    • Knowles Junction
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles Junction
      • Knowles Junction is located in Madera County
  • Fresno County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
    • Friant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Auberry
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Prather
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Meadow Lakes
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Lakes
      • Meadow Lakes is located in Fresno County
    • Sentinel ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sentinel have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
      • Sentinel is located in Fresno County
    • Gordon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon
      • Gordon is located in Fresno County
    • Pineridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineridge
      • Pineridge is located in Fresno County
    • Tollhouse
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Dora Belle
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dora Belle
      • Dora Belle is located in Fresno County
    • Shaver Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Big Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
      • Big Creek is located in Fresno County
      • Former names for Big Creek:
      • Big Creek Flats
      • Cascada
      • Manzanita Park
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Big Creek <2>
    • Pinedale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Clovis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Mariposa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Willow Glen, with the one closest to Willow Glen listed first.
    • Fish Camp
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Bootjack
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bootjack
      • Bootjack is located in Mariposa County
    • Darrah
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darrah
      • Darrah is located in Mariposa County
    • Wawona
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Mariposa
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Jerseydale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerseydale
      • Jerseydale is located in Mariposa County
    • Midpines
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Catheys Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Bullion
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Bullion
      • Mount Bullion is located in Mariposa County
    • Yosemite West
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yosemite West
      • Yosemite West is located in Mariposa County
  • Merced County
  • Nevada County
    • Cedar Crest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Crest
      • Cedar Crest is located in Nevada County

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

Cemeteries Near Willow Glen ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Willow Glen.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Picayune Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Picayune Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Picayune Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fine Gold Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fine Gold Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fine Gold Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #7970 <5>
  • Walker Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Walker Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Walker Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oakhill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • North Fork Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the North Fork Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the North Fork Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Raymond Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Winchell Cove Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Winchell Cove Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Winchell Cove Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Winchell Cove Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Friant.
  • Auberry Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Big Sandy Rancheria Tribal Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • White Rock Cemetery
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the White Rock Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the White Rock Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Tollhouse Cemetery
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (12 more) ...
    • Academy Cemetery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Joseph Cemetery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Joseph Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Joseph Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Mariposa Masonic Cemetery
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mariposa Masonic Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Mariposa Masonic Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Mariposa.
      • The Mariposa Masonic Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Masonic Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2205021 <5>

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

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

  • Grub Gulch ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Grub Gulch have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grub Gulch
    • Grub Gulch is located in Madera County
  • Knowles ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Knowles. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles
    • Knowles is located in Madera County
  • Raymond
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raymond
    • Raymond is located in Madera County
  • Auberry
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Ben Hur
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ben Hur have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Hur
    • Ben Hur is located in Mariposa County
  • Sentinel ‑ Historic
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sentinel have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sentinel
    • Sentinel is located in Fresno County
  • Tollhouse
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Wawona
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Letcher ‑ Historic
    (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Letcher have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Letcher
    • Letcher is located in Fresno County
  • Mariposa
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Jerseydale
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerseydale
    • Jerseydale is located in Mariposa County
  • Mount Bullion
    (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Bullion
    • Mount Bullion is located in Mariposa County
  • Herndon
    (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herndon
    • Herndon is located in Fresno County
  • Fresno
    (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Willow Glen ...

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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Willow Glen.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Willow Glen, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Willow Glen.

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 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 Willow Glen:

The official website for Madera County: www.madera-county.com/

The official website for State of California: https://www.ca.gov/

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 Willow Glen, 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>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<5>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.
<6>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- Willow Glen) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Willow Glen. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 37.2119, Longitude: -119.7082       In this case, the coordinates for Willow Glen have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025