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 Columbia Heights (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 Columbia Heights. 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 Columbia Heights ...
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 Columbia Heights: Columbia Hts. (in Canada, 'Hgts.' is the more common abbreviation.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Columbia Heights. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Columbia Heights.
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 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.
Columbia Heights is located in Washington County.
To see how the shape of the state's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Washington County: New London (CT), Windham (CT), Dukes (MA), Suffolk (NY), Bristol, Kent & Newport.
Below are the counties that are near Columbia Heights. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Columbia Heights:
- Washington County (The home county of Columbia Heights)
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Shannock
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shannock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannock
- Kenyon
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Kenyon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
- Carolina
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Carolina is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Charlestown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 7,836 people
- Usquepaug
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Usquepaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Usquepaug
- Kingston Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kingston Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston Station
- Charlestown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Perryville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Perryville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Alton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Alton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alton
- Curtis Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Curtis Corner is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis Corner
- South Kingstown
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- South Kingstown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Kingstown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 30,454 people
- Wyoming
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Burdickville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Burdickville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdickville
- Bristol County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Bristol
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bristol is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Annawomscutt
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Annawomscutt is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Annawomscutt
- Barrington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,015 people
- Barrington
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Barrington is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barrington
- Bristol
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bristol is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
- Population from the 2020 Census: 21,866 people
- Coggeshall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coggeshall is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coggeshall
- Warren
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Warren is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,469 people
- Warren
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Warren is located in Bristol County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- West Greenwich
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- West Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greenwich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,418 people
- Kitts Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Kitts Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitts Corner
- East Greenwich
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- East Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
- Population from the 2020 Census: 13,141 people
- Shippee Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Shippee Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shippee Corner
- Gortons Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Gortons Corner is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gortons Corner
- Spring Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Spring Lake is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Lake
- Coventry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34,931 people
- Coventry
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Coventry is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coventry
- East Greenwich
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Greenwich is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Greenwich
- Greene
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Greene is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene
- Quidnick
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Quidnick is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quidnick
- Cowesett
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Cowesett is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cowesett
- Phenix
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Phenix is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phenix
- Newport County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Clarks Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Clarks Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- Jamestown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Brenton Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Brenton Village is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brenton Village
- Jamestown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jamestown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,482 people
- Newport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Newport is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 24,412 people
- Newport East
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Newport East is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport East
- Middletown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,803 people
- Middletown
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Lawtons
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lawtons is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawtons
- Melville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Melville is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
- Prudence Island
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Prudence Island is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudence Island
- Portsmouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Portsmouth is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portsmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 17,108 people
- Portsmouth
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Portsmouth is located in Newport County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portsmouth
- Providence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Kent ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Kent is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
- Oaklawn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Oaklawn is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaklawn
- Richmond ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Ashland ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Ashland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Clayville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Clayville is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayville
- Sockanosset
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sockanosset is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sockanosset
- Meshanticut
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Meshanticut is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meshanticut
- Rockland ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rockland is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockland
- Garden City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Garden City is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Foster
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Foster is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,747 people
- Knightsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Knightsville is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knightsville
- Bellefonte
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bellefonte is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefonte
- Cranston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cranston is located in Providence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 81,142 people
- New London County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Pawcatuck
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Village is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Village
- North Stonington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- North Stonington is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Stonington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,197 people
- North Stonington
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Voluntown
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Voluntown is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Voluntown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,500 people
- Wequetequock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wequetequock is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetequock
- Voluntown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Stonington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Stonington is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 18,566 people
- Glasgo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Stonington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mashantucket
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Griswold
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Griswold is located in New London County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griswold
- Population from the 2020 Census: 11,660 people
- Old Mystic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Windham County (CT)
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Ekonk
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ekonk is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ekonk
- Oneco
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sterling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sterling is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,764 people
- Sterling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield Village is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield Village
- Plainfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Almyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Almyville is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almyville
- Moosup
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Plainfield is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,084 people
- Central Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Canterbury
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Canterbury
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Canterbury is located in Windham County (CT)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canterbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,088 people
- Wauregan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bristol County (MA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Acoaxet
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Acoaxet is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acoaxet
- Globe Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Globe Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
- Central Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Central Village is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Village
- Westport Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Westport Point is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport Point
- Ocean Grove
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ocean Grove is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocean Grove
- Seekonk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Seekonk is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seekonk
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15,851 people
- Westport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Westport is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 16,097 people
- Fall River
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fall River is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fall River
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89,792 people
- Harris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Harris is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Swansea Center
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Swansea Center is located in Bristol County (MA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swansea Center
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Columbia Heights, see our County-by-County Page for Columbia Heights.
Cemeteries Near Columbia Heights ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Columbia Heights.
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 Columbia Heights - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Columbia Heights covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Allen Green Lot
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Royal Indian Burial Ground
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- White Brook Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Burdick Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- George Babcock Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Aldrich Potter Lot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldrich Potter Lot
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Aldrich Potter Lot is located outside and to the west of Charlestown.
- Jump to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission: RIHCC ID #CH032 <2>
- Charlestown Indian Burying Ground
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Doctor Isaac Collins Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Nathan Kinyon Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Boss Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hoxsie - Cayer Plot
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hall - Geer Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (621 more) ...
- Joseph Burdick Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Gardiner - Green Plot
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<4>
While we didn't find Columbia Heights in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Columbia Heights.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Columbia Heights, with the one closest to Columbia Heights listed first.
- Kenyon
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Kenyon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenyon
- Shannock
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shannock is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shannock
- Carolina
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Carolina is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Wood River Junction
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Wood River Junction is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood River Junction
- Charlestown
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Charlestown is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlestown
- Perryville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Perryville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perryville
- Kingston Station
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kingston Station is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston Station
- Usquepaug
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Usquepaug is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Usquepaug
- Woodville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Woodville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Green Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Green Hill is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Hill
- West Kingston
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- West Kingston is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Kingston
- Wyoming
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wyoming is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyoming
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Matunuck
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Matunuck is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matunuck
- Rocky Brook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rocky Brook is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Brook
- Gould
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Gould is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Columbia Heights. See our List of 1890's Communities around Columbia Heights.
Newspapers Published in Columbia Heights ...
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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Columbia Heights.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Columbia Heights, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Columbia Heights.
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 Columbia Heights:
- Websites specific to Rhode Island
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bristol County
- Kent County
- Newport County
- Providence County
- New London County
- Windham County
- Bristol County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission (RIHCC) has created and maintains a database of cemeteries. More information about the RIHCC can be found on their website: rihistoriccemeteries.org. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Columbia Heights, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | 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- Columbia Heights) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |