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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 Bee (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 Bee. 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 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.

Bee is located in Pierce 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 Pierce County: King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Thurston & Yakima.

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

  • Pierce County     (The home county of Bee)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bee, with the one closest to Bee listed first.
    • Gertrude
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Gertrude is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gertrude
    • Meridian
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Meridian is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
    • Anderson Island
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Anderson Island is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Island
    • Steilacoom
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Longbranch
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Fox Island
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lakebay
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • University Place
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cromwell
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cromwell is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
    • DuPont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Lake City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake City is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Clover Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Clover Park is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Park
    • Artondale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Artondale is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
  • Grays Harbor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bee, with the one closest to Bee listed first.
    • McCleary Junction
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • McCleary Junction is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCleary Junction
    • McCleary
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Sine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Sine is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sine
    • Garden City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Garden City is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bee, with the one closest to Bee listed first.
    • Tahlequah
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tahlequah is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
    • Magnolia Beach
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Magnolia Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Beach
    • Milton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Buenna
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
    • Federal Way
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Redondo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Redondo is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redondo
    • Algona
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Pacific
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Vashon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodmont Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodmont Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont Beach
    • Des Moines
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Star Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Star Lake is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Lake
    • Zenith
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Zenith is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bee, with the one closest to Bee listed first.
    • Burley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Olalla
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Bethel
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • East Port Orchard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
    • Gorst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Parkwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Port Orchard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • South Colby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • South Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Colby
    • Southworth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Southworth is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
    • Colby
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Navy Yard City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Navy Yard City is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navy Yard City
    • Retsil
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Retsil is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retsil
    • South Park Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bee, with the one closest to Bee listed first.
    • Grapeview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Allyn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bayshore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Bayshore is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
    • Belfair
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • New Kamilche
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • New Kamilche is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Kamilche
    • Shelton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Tahuya
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Union ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Skokomish
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Skokomish is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skokomish
    • Potlatch
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hoodsport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mohrweis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Mohrweis is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohrweis
    • Lilliwaup
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bee, with the one closest to Bee listed first.
    • Puget
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
    • Tanglewilde
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
    • Nisqually Indian Community
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Lacey
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Lacey is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,178 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lacey <1>
    • Olympia
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kellys Korner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
    • North Yelm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • North Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yelm
    • Tumwater
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Yelm
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yelm
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,591 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Yelm <1>
    • East Olympia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rainier
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • McIntosh
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • McIntosh is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh
    • Tenino
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Bee ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bee.

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

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

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

  • Hillcrest Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Anderson Island Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Fox Island Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • German Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Lutheran Cemetery
    • The German Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Lakebay German Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    • Old German Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
  • Longbranch Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Steilacoom Masonic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Western State Hospital Memorial Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Ft. Steilacoom Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • New Tacoma Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Lakebay Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Settlers Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Settlers Cemetery
    • The Old Settlers Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Gravelly Lake Cemetery
  • Byrd Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (86 more) ...
    • Cromwell Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell Cemetery
      • The Cromwell Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Hales Passage Cemetery
      • Hales Passage Scandinavian Lutheran Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2259125 <3>
    • Home of Peace Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Old Pioneer Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Pioneer Cemetery
      • The Old Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Rigney Cemetery

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

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

  • Meridian
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Meridian is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
  • Steilacoom
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Longbranch
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Fox Island
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Lakebay
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Puget
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Puget is located in Thurston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
  • Lake City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake City is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
  • Wollochet
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wollochet is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wollochet
  • Artondale
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Artondale is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
  • Lakeview
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Lakeview is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
  • Rosedale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Rosedale is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
  • Hillhurst
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillhurst is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillhurst
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Excelsior
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Excelsior is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
    • Gig Harbor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Vaughn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Vaughn is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn

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

Newspapers Published in Bee ...

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 113 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bee.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bee, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bee.

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 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 Bee:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bee) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Bee, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.