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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

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

We've added Garfield to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Garfield, 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 Garfield (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 Garfield. 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 Garfield is historic, it would have been located within present day Chaffee County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Chaffee County: Fremont, Gunnison, Lake, Park, Pitkin & Saguache.

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

  • Chaffee County     (The home county of Garfield)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garfield, with the one closest to Garfield listed first.
    • Monarch
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Maysville ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
      • Maysville is located in Chaffee County
    • Hancock ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock
      • Hancock is located in Chaffee County
    • Saint Elmo ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Elmo
      • Saint Elmo is located in Chaffee County
    • Poncha Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Iron City ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Iron City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iron City
      • Iron City is located in Chaffee County
    • Browns Canon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Browns Canon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Canon
      • Browns Canon is located in Chaffee County
    • Mears Junction
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mears Junction. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mears Junction
      • Mears Junction is located in Chaffee County
    • Belleview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Belleview. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
      • Belleview is located in Chaffee County
    • Salida
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Cleora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cleora. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleora
      • Cleora is located in Chaffee County
    • Nathrop
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nathrop have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nathrop
      • Nathrop is located in Chaffee County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nathrop <2>
  • Fremont County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garfield, with the one closest to Garfield listed first.
    • Wellsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsville
      • Wellsville is located in Fremont County
    • Calcite ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Calcite. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calcite
      • Calcite is located in Fremont County
    • Howard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Vallie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Vallie. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vallie
      • Vallie is located in Fremont County
  • Gunnison County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garfield, with the one closest to Garfield listed first.
    • Whitepine
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitepine
      • Whitepine is located in Gunnison County
      • Whitepine has also been known as:
      • White Pine
    • Bowerman ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bowerman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowerman
      • Bowerman is located in Gunnison County
      • Bowerman has also been known as:
      • Camp Bowerman
      • Nugget City
    • Pitkin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Tincup
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tincup
      • Tincup is located in Gunnison County
    • Ohio City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Abbeyville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbeyville
      • Abbeyville is located in Gunnison County
      • Former name for Abbeyville:
      • Hillerton
    • Parlin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Parlin. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parlin
      • Parlin is located in Gunnison County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parlin <2>
    • Pieplant ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pieplant. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pieplant
      • Pieplant is located in Gunnison County
      • Pieplant has also been known as:
      • Pie Plant
      • Pieplant Mill
    • Almont
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Almont have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almont
      • Almont is located in Gunnison County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Almont <2>
  • Saguache County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Garfield, with the one closest to Garfield listed first.
    • Sargents
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sargents have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargents
      • Sargents is located in Saguache County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sargents <2>
    • Bonanza
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonanza
      • Bonanza is located in Saguache County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21 people
    • Kerper City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kerper City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kerper City
      • Kerper City is located in Saguache County
    • Spook City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Spook City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spook City
      • Spook City is located in Saguache County
    • Villa Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Villa Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa Grove
      • Villa Grove is located in Saguache County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Villa Grove <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Garfield ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Garfield.

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 Garfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Tomichi Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tomichi Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tomichi Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • White Pine Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the White Pine Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the White Pine Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Poncha Springs Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Pitkin Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pitkin Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pitkin Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Centerville Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Centerville Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Centerville Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Boothill Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Tincup Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tincup Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tincup Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Cleora Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Ohio City Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ohio City Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ohio City Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Doyleville Cemetery #1
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (8 more) ...
    • Doyle Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Doyle Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Doyle Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Parlin Cemetery
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Parlin Cemetery
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Parlin Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>

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.

Garfield itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Monarch
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Maysville ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maysville
    • Maysville is located in Chaffee County
  • Romley ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Romley have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Romley
    • Romley is located in Chaffee County
  • Saint Elmo ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Elmo
    • Saint Elmo is located in Chaffee County
  • Poncha Springs
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Alpine ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alpine have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
    • Alpine is located in Chaffee County
  • Sargents
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sargents have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargents
    • Sargents is located in Saguache County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sargents <2>
  • Chester
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chester have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
    • Chester is located in Saguache County
  • Mears Junction
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mears Junction. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mears Junction
    • Mears Junction is located in Chaffee County
  • Browns Canon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Browns Canon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Canon
    • Browns Canon is located in Chaffee County
  • Pitkin
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Belleview
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Belleview. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleview
    • Belleview is located in Chaffee County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Salida
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Cleora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cleora. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<4>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleora
      • Cleora is located in Chaffee County
    • Nathrop
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nathrop have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nathrop
      • Nathrop is located in Chaffee County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Nathrop <2>

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

Newspapers Published in Garfield ...

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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Garfield.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Garfield, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Garfield.

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 Garfield:

The official website for Chaffee County: www.chaffeecounty.org/

The official website for State of Colorado: https://www.colorado.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 Garfield, 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 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.
<4>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.
<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- Garfield) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Garfield. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 38.5517, Longitude: -106.2922       In this case, the coordinates for Garfield have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025