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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 Clara Peak (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 Clara Peak. 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.

Clara Peak is located in Rio Arriba County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Rio Arriba County: Archuleta (CO), Conejos (CO), Los Alamos, Mora, San Juan, Sandoval, Santa Fe & Taos.

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

  • Rio Arriba County     (The home county of Clara Peak)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clara Peak, with the one closest to Clara Peak listed first.
    • Santa Clara Pueblo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Santa Clara Pueblo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Clara Pueblo
      • Santa Clara Pueblo is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Hernandez
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • El Duende
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Duende
      • El Duende is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Chamita
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamita
      • Chamita is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Espanola
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Ohkay Owingeh
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • San Juan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Juan
      • San Juan is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Alcalde
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Medanales
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Estaca
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estaca
      • Estaca is located in Rio Arriba County
    • La Villita
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Villita
      • La Villita is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Abiquiu
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Los Luceros
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Los Luceros
      • Los Luceros is located in Rio Arriba County
  • Los Alamos County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clara Peak, with the one closest to Clara Peak listed first.
    • Los Alamos
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • White Rock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
      • White Rock is located in Los Alamos County
  • Sandoval County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clara Peak, with the one closest to Clara Peak listed first.
    • Cochiti Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Seven Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Springs
      • Seven Springs is located in Sandoval County
    • Cochiti Pueblo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Santa Fe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clara Peak, with the one closest to Clara Peak listed first.
    • Santo Nino
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santo Nino
      • Santo Nino is located in Santa Fe County
    • Pajarito
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pajarito
      • Pajarito is located in Santa Fe County
    • Santa Cruz
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Sombrillo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sombrillo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sombrillo
      • Sombrillo is located in Santa Fe County
    • Arroyo Seco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arroyo Seco
      • Arroyo Seco is located in Santa Fe County
    • Cuartelez
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuartelez
      • Cuartelez is located in Santa Fe County
    • El Valle de Arroyo Seco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for El Valle de Arroyo Seco have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Valle de Arroyo Seco
      • El Valle de Arroyo Seco is located in Santa Fe County
    • San Ildefonso Pueblo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for San Ildefonso Pueblo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Ildefonso Pueblo
      • San Ildefonso Pueblo is located in Santa Fe County
    • La Puebla
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Puebla
      • La Puebla is located in Santa Fe County
    • El Rancho
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for El Rancho have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for El Rancho
      • El Rancho is located in Santa Fe County
    • Jacona
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Jacona. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacona
      • Jacona is located in Santa Fe County
    • Jaconita
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jaconita have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaconita
      • Jaconita is located in Santa Fe County
    • Pojoaque
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pojoaque have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pojoaque
      • Pojoaque is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pojoaque <2>
  • Taos County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clara Peak, with the one closest to Clara Peak listed first.
    • Ojo Caliente
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Vallecito
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Trampas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Chamisal
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chamisal have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamisal
      • Chamisal is located in Taos County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chamisal <2>
    • Rio Lucio
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rio Lucio have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Lucio
      • Rio Lucio is located in Taos County
    • Pilar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Clara Peak ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clara Peak.

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

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

  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Womens Club Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • San Pedro Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Guaje Pines Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Black Mesa Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Black Mesa Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Black Mesa Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Santa Clara Pueblo Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • San Ildefonso Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Santa Cruz Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • New Santa Cruz Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • La Villita Catholic Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • La Puebla Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (36 more) ...
    • San Miguel Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the San Miguel Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the San Miguel Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Nuestra Senora de Dolores Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 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.<6>

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

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

  • Chamita
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamita
    • Chamita is located in Rio Arriba County
  • Espanola
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Alcalde
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Santa Cruz
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Abiquiu
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Jacona
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Jacona. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacona
    • Jacona is located in Santa Fe County
  • Pojoaque
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pojoaque have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pojoaque
    • Pojoaque is located in Santa Fe County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pojoaque <2>
  • Velarde
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Embudo
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (6 more) ...
    • Ojo Caliente
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • El Rito
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Coyote
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Rinconada
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rinconada have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinconada
      • Rinconada is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Barranca
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barranca have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barranca
      • Barranca is located in Taos County
    • Santa Fe
      (29 miles [46.7 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 Clara Peak. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clara Peak.

Newspapers Published in Clara Peak ...

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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clara Peak.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clara Peak, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clara Peak.

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 websites either 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 Clara Peak:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Clara Peak. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of New Mexico: https://www.nm.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<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 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.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Clara Peak) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Clara Peak. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.0356, Longitude: -106.2403       In this case, the coordinates for Clara Peak have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<6>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 Clara Peak, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025