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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 Valle (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 Valle. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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 Valle is located in Taos County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Taos County: Conejos (CO), Costilla (CO), Colfax, Mora & Rio Arriba.

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

  • Taos County     (The home county of El Valle)
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Valle, with the one closest to El Valle listed first.
    • Trampas
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Chamisal
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Llano
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Penasco
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Vallecito
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Rio Lucio
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Rio Lucio is located in Taos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Lucio
    • Picuris Pueblo
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Picuris Pueblo is located in Taos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Picuris Pueblo
    • Vadito
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Tres Ritos
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Tres Ritos is located in Taos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tres Ritos
    • Pilar
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Angostura
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Angostura is located in Taos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angostura
    • Carson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Talpa
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Talpa is located in Taos County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Talpa
  • Mora County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Valle, with the one closest to El Valle listed first.
    • Chacon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Holman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Cleveland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Pacheco Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pacheco Village is located in Mora County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacheco Village
    • Mora
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Abuelo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Abuelo is located in Mora County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abuelo
    • Ledoux
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Ledoux is located in Mora County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ledoux
    • South Carmen
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • South Carmen is located in Mora County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Carmen
    • Guadalupita
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • La Cueva
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • La Cueva is located in Mora County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Cueva
    • Rainsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Rio Arriba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Valle, with the one closest to El Valle listed first.
    • Truchas
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Apodaca
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Apodaca is located in Rio Arriba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apodaca
    • Cordova
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Dixon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rinconada
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Rinconada is located in Rio Arriba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinconada
    • Embudo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Chimayo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Velarde
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • La Villita
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • La Villita is located in Rio Arriba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Villita
    • Los Luceros
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Los Luceros is located in Rio Arriba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Los Luceros
    • Alcalde
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Estaca
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Estaca is located in Rio Arriba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estaca
    • Ohkay Owingeh
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • San Miguel County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Valle, with the one closest to El Valle listed first.
    • Cowles
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Cowles is located in San Miguel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowles
    • Holy Ghost ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Holy Ghost is located in San Miguel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holy Ghost
    • Rociada
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Pendaries Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Pendaries Village is located in San Miguel County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pendaries Village
  • Santa Fe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from El Valle, with the one closest to El Valle listed first.
    • Rio Chiquito
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Rio Chiquito is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio Chiquito
    • Cundiyo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • La Puebla
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • La Puebla is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Puebla
    • Cuartelez
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Cuartelez is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuartelez
    • Arroyo Seco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Arroyo Seco is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arroyo Seco
    • El Valle de Arroyo Seco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Santa Cruz
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Sombrillo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Sombrillo is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sombrillo
    • Santo Nino
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Santo Nino is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santo Nino
    • Chupadero
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Chupadero is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chupadero
    • Cuyamungue
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cuyamungue is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuyamungue
    • Pojoaque
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rio en Medio
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Rio en Medio is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rio en Medio

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

Cemeteries Near El Valle ...

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

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 El Valle - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • San Jose de Gracia Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Las Trampas Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Las Trampas Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Santa Cruz Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Virgilio Trujillo Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Morada Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Martinez Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Llano de la Yegua Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Ramon Sanchez Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Ojo Sarco Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • San Pedro Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Griego Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (80 more) ...
    • Rio Lucio Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Cementerio del Pueblo de Truchas Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Picuris Pueblo Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Picuris Pueblo Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Picuris Pueblo Cemetery is located in Picuris Pueblo.
      • The Picuris Pueblo Cemetery has also been known as:
      • San Lorenzo de Picuris Parish Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2405843 <2>

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

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

  • Penasco
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Rinconada
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rinconada is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rinconada
  • Barranca
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Barranca is located in Taos County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barranca
  • Embudo
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Velarde
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Alcalde
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Santa Cruz
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • Espanola
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Chamita
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Chamita is located in Rio Arriba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamita
  • Pojoaque
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Taos
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Ojo Caliente
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (8 more) ...
    • Jacona
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Jacona is located in Santa Fe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jacona
    • Mora
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Rociada
      (25 miles [40.2 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 El Valle. See our List of 1890's Communities around El Valle.

Newspapers Published in El Valle ...

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 43 newspapers that have been published in the area around El Valle.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of El Valle, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for El Valle.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 El Valle:

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 El Valle, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- El Valle) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.