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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 Austin (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 Austin. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

Austin is located in Island County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Island County: Jefferson, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit & Snohomish.

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

  • Island County     (The home county of Austin)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Freeland
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Bay View
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Bay View is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Langley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenbank
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Clinton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Camp Diana
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Camp Diana is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Diana
    • Camano
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Juniper Beach
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Juniper Beach is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniper Beach
    • Coupeville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • San de Fuca
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • San de Fuca is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
    • Oak Harbor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
  • Clallam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Blyn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Blyn is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyn
    • Port Williams
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Port Williams is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Williams
    • Bell Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Bell Hill is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Hill
    • Sequim
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • River Road
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • River Road is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
    • Carlsborg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Old Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Old Town is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Marrowstone
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Nordland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Port Ludlow
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Beaver Valley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Beaver Valley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Valley
    • Chimacum
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Port Hadlock
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Irondale ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Irondale is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
    • Port Hadlock - Irondale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Port Townsend
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Adelma Beach
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Adelma Beach is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelma Beach
    • Leland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Leland is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
    • Gardiner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Quilcene
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Richmond Highlands
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Richmond Highlands is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Highlands
    • Shoreline
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Spring Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Spring Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Beach
    • North City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • North City is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
    • Northwest Snohomish
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Northwest Snohomish is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest Snohomish
    • Evergreen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Evergreen is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
    • Kenmore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Forest Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Sheridan Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Sheridan Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan Beach
    • Silver Firs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Silver Firs is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Firs
    • Crown Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Crown Hill is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown Hill
    • Bothell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake City is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Hansville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Port Gamble
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Kingston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Lofall
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Lofall is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lofall
    • Indianola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Suquamish
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Poulsbo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Pearson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Pearson is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
    • Port Madison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Port Madison is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Madison
    • Keyport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Rolling Bay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Rolling Bay is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Bay
    • Brownsville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Brownsville is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
    • Manitou Beach
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Manitou Beach is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manitou Beach
  • Skagit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Conway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Fish Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Fish Town is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Town
    • Lake McMurray
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake McMurray is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake McMurray
    • La Conner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Shelter Bay
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Shelter Bay is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelter Bay
    • Skagit City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Skagit City is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skagit City
    • Swinomish Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Swinomish Village is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swinomish Village
    • Snee Oosh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Snee Oosh is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snee Oosh
    • Montborne
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Montborne is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montborne
  • Snohomish County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Austin, with the one closest to Austin listed first.
    • Mukilteo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Tulalip Bay
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Tulalip Bay is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulalip Bay
    • McKees Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • McKees Beach is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKees Beach
    • Spee-Bi-Dah
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Spee-Bi-Dah is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spee-Bi-Dah
    • Tulalip
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tulalip is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulalip
    • Nelsons Corner
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Nelsons Corner is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsons Corner
    • Priest Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Priest Point is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priest Point
    • Weallup Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Weallup Lake is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weallup Lake
    • Harbour Pointe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Harbour Pointe is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbour Pointe
    • Cathan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cathan is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cathan
    • Edmonds
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Paine Field - Lake Stickney
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Picnic Point - North Lynnwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Austin ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Austin.

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 Austin - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hansville Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Eglon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Sound View Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Buena Vista Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Kingston Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Mission Beach Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Breidablik Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breidablik Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Breidablik Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the north of Poulsbo.
    • The Breidablik Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Breidablik Chapel Cemetery
    • Breidablik Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188982 <2>
  • Laurel Grove Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Swedbergs Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Vinland Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cypress Lawn Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (49 more) ...
    • Sunnyside Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Poulsbo Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Holyrood Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)

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

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

  • Langley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Port Ludlow
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Port Gamble
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Chimacum
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Mukilteo
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Irondale ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Irondale is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
  • Tulalip
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Tulalip is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulalip
  • Kingston
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Port Townsend
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Edmonds
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Port Discovery ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Port Discovery is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Discovery
  • Everett
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Everett is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everett
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 112,482 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Everett <1>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Lowell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Lowell is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
    • Leland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Leland is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
    • Coupeville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Austin ...

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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Austin.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Austin, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Austin.

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 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 Austin:

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>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- Austin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Austin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.