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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 El Alto (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 El Alto. 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 northeast 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 north.

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 north 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.

El Alto is located in Mora 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 Mora County: Colfax, Harding, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe & Taos.

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

  • Mora County     (The home county of El Alto)
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Alto, with the one closest to El Alto listed first.
    • Mora
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Abuelo
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abuelo
      • Abuelo is located in Mora County
    • Cleveland
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • La Cueva
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Cueva
      • La Cueva is located in Mora County
    • Ledoux
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledoux
      • Ledoux is located in Mora County
    • Pacheco Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pacheco Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacheco Village
      • Pacheco Village is located in Mora County
    • Rainsville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Holman
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • South Carmen
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Carmen
      • South Carmen is located in Mora County
    • Golondrinas
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golondrinas
      • Golondrinas is located in Mora County
    • Guadalupita
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ojo Feliz
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Colfax County
    • Angel Fire
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Rio Arriba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Alto, with the one closest to El Alto listed first.
    • Truchas
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Cordova
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • San Miguel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Alto, with the one closest to El Alto listed first.
    • Rociada
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Pendaries Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pendaries Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendaries Village
      • Pendaries Village is located in San Miguel County
    • Sapello
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Los Alamos
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Los Alamos. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Los Alamos
      • Los Alamos is located in San Miguel County
    • Hot Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Springs
      • Hot Springs is located in San Miguel County
    • Montezuma
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Trout Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trout Springs
      • Trout Springs is located in San Miguel County
    • Kroenigs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kroenigs have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kroenigs
      • Kroenigs is located in San Miguel County
    • Cowles
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowles
      • Cowles is located in San Miguel County
    • Las Vegas Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Las Vegas Town have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Las Vegas Town
      • Las Vegas Town is located in San Miguel County
    • Las Vegas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Holy Ghost ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Ghost
      • Holy Ghost is located in San Miguel County
  • Taos County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Alto, with the one closest to El Alto listed first.
    • Angostura
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angostura
      • Angostura is located in Taos County
    • Tres Ritos
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tres Ritos
      • Tres Ritos is located in Taos County
    • Llano
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Penasco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Penasco have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penasco
      • Penasco is located in Taos County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Penasco <1>
    • Vadito
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Valle Escondido
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Chamisal
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chamisal have been provided by the GNIS.<2> 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 <1>
    • Picuris Pueblo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Picuris Pueblo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Picuris Pueblo
      • Picuris Pueblo is located in Taos County
    • Rio Lucio
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rio Lucio have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Lucio
      • Rio Lucio is located in Taos County
    • Trampas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Shady Brook
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Brook
      • Shady Brook is located in Taos County
    • Talpa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talpa
      • Talpa is located in Taos County

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

Cemeteries Near El Alto ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of El Alto.

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

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

  • Mora Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mora Presbyterian Church Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mora Presbyterian Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Santa Gertrudes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Santa Gertrudes Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Santa Gertrudes Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Vrain Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Vrain Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Vrain Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Mora.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #38392 <4>
  • St. Gertrudes Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Presbyterian Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Cleveland Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • San Antonio Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the San Antonio Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the San Antonio Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Quintana Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • La Cueva Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the La Cueva Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the La Cueva Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #38160 <4>
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Sacred Heart Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • La Morada Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the La Morada Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the La Morada Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #38168 <4>
  • Continue List   (79 more) ...
    • Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • San Isidro Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Holman Presbyterian Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Holman Presbyterian Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Holman Presbyterian Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #38118 <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.<5>

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

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

  • Mora
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • La Cueva
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Cueva
    • La Cueva is located in Mora County
  • Lucero
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lucero have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucero
    • Lucero is located in Mora County
  • Rociada
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Guadalupita
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • San Ignacio
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for San Ignacio have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San Ignacio
    • San Ignacio is located in San Miguel County
  • Sapello
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Loma Parda ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Loma Parda. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loma Parda
    • Loma Parda is located in Mora County
  • Los Alamos
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Los Alamos. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Los Alamos
    • Los Alamos is located in San Miguel County
  • Ocate
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Tiptonville
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tiptonville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiptonville
    • Tiptonville is located in Mora County
  • Halls Peak ‑ Historic
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Halls Peak. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Peak
    • Halls Peak is located in Mora County
  • Continue List   (8 more) ...
    • Hot Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Springs
      • Hot Springs is located in San Miguel County
    • Onava
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Onava have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onava
      • Onava is located in San Miguel County
    • Kroenigs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kroenigs have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kroenigs
      • Kroenigs is located in San Miguel County

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

Newspapers Published in El Alto ...

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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around El Alto.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of El Alto, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for El Alto.

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 El Alto:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for El Alto. 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>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>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.
<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>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 El Alto, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- El Alto) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in El Alto. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 35.9789, Longitude: -105.3081       In this case, the coordinates for El Alto have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025