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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 Riverside (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 Riverside. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Riverside is located in San Juan 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 San Juan County: Apache (AZ), Archuleta (CO), La Plata (CO), Montezuma (CO), McKinley, Rio Arriba, Sandoval & San Juan (UT).

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

  • San Juan County     (The home county of Riverside)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverside, with the one closest to Riverside listed first.
    • Aztec
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aztec
      • Aztec is located in San Juan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,332 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aztec <1>
    • Turley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turley
      • Turley is located in San Juan County
    • Flora Vista
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Flora Vista have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flora Vista
      • Flora Vista is located in San Juan County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Flora Vista <1>
    • La Plata
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Blanco
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Bloomfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bloomfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
      • Bloomfield is located in San Juan County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,643 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bloomfield <1>
    • Navajo Dam
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Farmington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Napi HQ
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Napi HQ. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napi HQ
      • Napi HQ is located in San Juan County
    • Upper Fruitland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Fruitland
      • Upper Fruitland is located in San Juan County
  • Rio Arriba County
    • Navajo City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Navajo City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navajo City
      • Navajo City is located in Rio Arriba County
  • Archuleta County (CO)
  • La Plata County (CO)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverside, with the one closest to Riverside listed first.
    • Bondad
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bondad. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bondad
      • Bondad is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • La Boca
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for La Boca have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Boca
      • La Boca is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Ignacio
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ignacio
      • Ignacio is located in La Plata County (CO)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 963 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ignacio <1>
    • Marvel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marvel have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marvel
      • Marvel is located in La Plata County (CO)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marvel <1>
    • Carbon Junction
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carbon Junction
      • Carbon Junction is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Florida
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florida
      • Florida is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fort Lewis. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
      • Fort Lewis is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Durango
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durango
      • Durango is located in La Plata County (CO)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 19,690 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durango <1>
    • Gem Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gem Village
      • Gem Village is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Allison
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allison
      • Allison is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Hesperus
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bayfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayfield
      • Bayfield is located in La Plata County (CO)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,586 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bayfield <1>
    • Hermosa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermosa
      • Hermosa is located in La Plata County (CO)

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

Cemeteries Near Riverside ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riverside.

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

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

  • Old Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Elco Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Elco Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Elco Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Aztec Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Flora Vista Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • La Boca Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the La Boca Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the La Boca Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Greenhorn Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
  • Ouray Memorial Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ouray Memorial Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ouray Memorial Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Marvel Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • La Plata Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Los Martinez Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Crestview Memorial Garden
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crestview Memorial Garden
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Crestview Memorial Garden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Blanco - Turley Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Blanco - Turley Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Blanco - Turley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Tiffany Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tiffany Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tiffany Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Kline Cemetery
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kline Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kline Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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

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

  • Aztec
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aztec
    • Aztec is located in San Juan County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,332 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aztec <1>
  • La Boca
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for La Boca have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Boca
    • La Boca is located in La Plata County (CO)
  • Ignacio
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ignacio
    • Ignacio is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 963 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ignacio <1>
  • La Plata
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
  • Flora Vista
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Flora Vista have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flora Vista
    • Flora Vista is located in San Juan County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Flora Vista <1>
  • Bloomfield
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bloomfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bloomfield
    • Bloomfield is located in San Juan County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,643 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bloomfield <1>
  • Fort Lewis ‑ Historic
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fort Lewis. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Lewis
    • Fort Lewis is located in La Plata County (CO)
  • Durango
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durango
    • Durango is located in La Plata County (CO)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 19,690 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durango <1>
  • Farmington
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Rosa ‑ Historic
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rosa have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Rosa is located in Rio Arriba County
  • Arboles
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
  • Trimble
    (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Trimble have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trimble
    • Trimble is located in La Plata County (CO)

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

Newspapers Published in Riverside ...

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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riverside.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riverside, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riverside.

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 Riverside:

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

The official website for San Juan County: www.co.san-juan.nm.us/

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Riverside) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Riverside. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.9825, Longitude: -107.8753       In this case, the coordinates for Riverside 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 Riverside, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025