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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 Dona Vista (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 Dona Vista. 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 Dona Vista ...

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 Dona Vista: Dona Vis.

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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.

Dona Vista is located in Lake County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lake County: Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter & Volusia.

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

  • Lake County     (The home county of Dona Vista)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dona Vista, with the one closest to Dona Vista listed first.
    • Lakeview Terrace Retirement Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Umatilla
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Eustis
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Grand Island
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Mid Florida Lakes
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Mid Florida Lakes is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mid Florida Lakes
    • Altoona
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakland Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Oakland Park is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland Park
    • Tavares
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Mount Dora
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bassville Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bassville Park is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassville Park
    • Lisbon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Lisbon is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Orange Bend
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Orange Bend is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Bend
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dona Vista, with the one closest to Dona Vista listed first.
    • Eastlake Weir
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Weirsdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Ocklawaha
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Electra
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Electra is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Electra
    • Candler
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Summerfield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Belleview
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Silver Springs Shores
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lynne
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lynne is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynne
    • Danks Corner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Orange County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dona Vista, with the one closest to Dona Vista listed first.
    • Tangerine
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Zellwood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Plymouth
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Apopka
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • South Apopka
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • South Apopka is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Apopka
    • Paradise Heights
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Paradise Heights is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise Heights
    • Crown Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Crown Point is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown Point
    • Clarcona
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Tildenville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Tildenville is located in Orange County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tildenville
    • Winter Garden
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Lockhart
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
  • Seminole County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dona Vista, with the one closest to Dona Vista listed first.
    • Heathrow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Wekiwa Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Wekiwa Springs is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wekiwa Springs
    • Forest City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest City is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
    • Lake Monroe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Sanlando Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Sanlando Springs is located in Seminole County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanlando Springs
    • Altamonte Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Mary
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Longwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sanford
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Casselberry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fern Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Winter Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sumter County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dona Vista, with the one closest to Dona Vista listed first.
    • The Villages
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • The Villages is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Villages
    • Orange Home
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Orange Home is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Home
    • Adamsville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Adamsville is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
    • Oxford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Wildwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Coleman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Center Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Sumterville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mabel
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Mabel is located in Sumter County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Lake Panasoffkee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Webster
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bushnell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Volusia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dona Vista, with the one closest to Dona Vista listed first.
    • Fort Florida
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Fort Florida is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Florida
    • De Bary
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Volusia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Volusia is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volusia
    • Beresford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Beresford is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beresford
    • Valdez
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Valdez is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valdez
    • Highland Park ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Park is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
    • Orange City Hills
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Orange City Hills is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange City Hills
    • Orange City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • West De Land
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • West De Land is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West De Land
    • De Land Southwest
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • De Land Southwest is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Land Southwest
    • De Land
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Emporia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Emporia is located in Volusia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emporia

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

Cemeteries Near Dona Vista ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dona Vista.

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 Dona Vista - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Marsh Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Lakeside Memory Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Grand Island Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Umatilla Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Glendale Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Altoona Hinson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Pine Forest Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Seneca Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Tavares Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lane Park Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Ponceannah Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (121 more) ...

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.<3>

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

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

  • Fort Mason
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Fort Mason is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Mason
  • Grand Island
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Eustis
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Umatilla
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Seneca
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Seneca is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seneca
  • Altoona
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lisbon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Lisbon is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
  • Tavares
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Mount Dora
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Orange Bend
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Orange Bend is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Bend
  • Pittman
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Pittman is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittman
  • Lane Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lane Park is located in Lake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lane Park
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Ellsworth Junction
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ellsworth Junction is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth Junction
    • Tangerine
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Sorrento
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Dona Vista ...

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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dona Vista.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dona Vista, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dona Vista.

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 Dona Vista:

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>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 Dona Vista, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Dona Vista) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.