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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 Blaine (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 Blaine. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Blaine is located in Whatcom County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Whatcom County: Okanogan, San Juan & Skagit.

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

  • Whatcom County     (The home county of Blaine)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blaine, with the one closest to Blaine listed first.
    • Birch Bay
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Kickerville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kickerville
      • Kickerville is located in Whatcom County
    • Custer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Ferndale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lynden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Point Roberts
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Lummi
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lummi
      • Lummi is located in Whatcom County
    • Lummi Island
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Clearbrook
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearbrook
      • Clearbrook is located in Whatcom County
    • Everson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Nooksack
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nooksack have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nooksack
      • Nooksack is located in Whatcom County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,659 people
    • Bellingham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Sumas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumas
      • Sumas is located in Whatcom County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,629 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sumas <1>
  • San Juan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blaine, with the one closest to Blaine listed first.
    • Eastsound
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Waldron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
      • Waldron is located in San Juan County
    • Olga
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Deer Harbor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Orcas
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Shaw Island
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw Island
      • Shaw Island is located in San Juan County
  • Skagit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Blaine, with the one closest to Blaine listed first.
    • Urban
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urban
      • Urban is located in Skagit County
    • Indian Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Indian Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
      • Indian Village is located in Skagit County

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Blaine ...

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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blaine.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Blaine. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Blaine and those printed in the larger area surrounding Blaine.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3> of Blaine.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Blaine:

Cemeteries Near Blaine ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blaine.

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

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

  • Blaine Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Blaine Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Blaine.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Blaine Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #76716 <4>
  • Hillsdale Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Kulshan Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kulshan Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kulshan Cemetery
  • Hazelmere Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Haynie Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Haynie Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Haynie Cemetery
  • Temple Sholom Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Temple Sholom Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the north of Surrey (BC).
    • The Temple Sholom Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Temple Shalom Cemetery
    • Temple Shalom Jewish Cemetery
    • Temple Sholom Jewish Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Temple Sholom Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2388552 <4>
  • Victory Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Victory Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located 5 miles [8 km]<3> to the north of Surrey (BC).
    • The Victory Memorial Park has also been known as:
    • Veterans Memorial Park
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Victory Memorial Park
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2226367 <4>
  • Beth Tikvah Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Beth Tikvah Cemetery is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the north of Surrey (BC).
    • The Beth Tikvah Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Beth Tikvah Jewish Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Beth Tikvah Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2443242 <4>
  • Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Langley Lawn Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Surrey Centre Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Surrey Centre Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Cloverdale (BC).
    • The Surrey Centre Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Christ Church Cemetery
    • Surrey City Cemetery
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Surrey Centre Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2098350 <4>
  • Continue List   (46 more) ...
    • Enterprise Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Enterprise Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Enterprise Cemetery
    • Murrayville Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Murrayville Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Murrayville (BC).
      • The Murrayville Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Historic Murrayville Cemetery
      • Langley Prairie Cemetery
      • Odd Fellows Cemetery
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Murrayville Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2136809 <4>
    • Valley View Memorial Gardens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Blaine had a population of 1,563 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Blaine had a population of 5,638 people.

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

  • Semiahmoo ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Semiahmoo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Semiahmoo
    • Semiahmoo is located in Whatcom County
  • Hillsdale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hillsdale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Hillsdale is located in Whatcom County
  • Haynie
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Haynie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynie
    • Haynie is located in Whatcom County
  • Birch Bay
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Custer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Mountain View
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mountain View have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain View
    • Mountain View is located in Whatcom County
  • Delta
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delta have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta
    • Delta is located in Whatcom County
  • Lynden
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Brennan
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brennan have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brennan
    • Brennan is located in Whatcom County
  • Lummi
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lummi
    • Lummi is located in Whatcom County
  • Laurel
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Laurel have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurel
    • Laurel is located in Whatcom County
  • Marietta
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marietta have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
    • Marietta is located in Whatcom County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Hampton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hampton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
      • Hampton is located in Whatcom County
    • Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
      • Beach is located in Whatcom County
    • Van Wyck
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Van Wyck have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wyck
      • Van Wyck is located in Whatcom County

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

The official website for Blaine: www.ci.blaine.wa.us/

The official website for Whatcom County: www.co.whatcom.wa.us/

The official website for State of Washington: https://access.wa.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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Blaine) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Blaine. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 48.9941, Longitude: -122.7498    
<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>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 Blaine, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024