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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 Brookdale (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 Brookdale. 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 northwest 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 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 west 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.

Brookdale 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 Brookdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Brookdale:

  • Pierce County     (The home county of Brookdale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
    • Summit
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Summit is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Midland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Midland is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
    • Parkland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Frederickson
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Frederickson is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frederickson
    • Spanaway
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Waller
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Waller is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waller
    • South Hill
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • South Hill is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hill
    • Puyallup
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fife
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Fife is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fife
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,458 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fife <1>
    • Firwood ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Firwood is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Firwood
    • Elk Plain
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Elk Plain is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk Plain
    • Clover Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Clover Park is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Park
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
    • Milton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Pacific
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Algona
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Federal Way
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Buenna
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
    • Auburn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Redondo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Redondo is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redondo
    • Tahlequah
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Tahlequah is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
    • Star Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Star Lake is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Lake
    • Woodmont Beach
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Woodmont Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont Beach
    • Lea Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lea Hill is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lea Hill
    • Osceola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Osceola is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
    • Olalla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Burley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Southworth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Southworth is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
    • Bethel
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • South Colby
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • South Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Colby
    • Colby
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Colchester
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Colchester is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colchester
    • South Park Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • East Port Orchard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
    • Manchester
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Parkwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Port Orchard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Lewis County
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
    • Grapeview
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Allyn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Belfair
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brookdale, with the one closest to Brookdale listed first.
    • North Yelm
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • North Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yelm
    • Nisqually Indian Community
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Yelm
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Puget
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
    • Tanglewilde
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
    • Kellys Korner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
    • Lacey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Rainier
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • East Olympia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Olympia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • McIntosh
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • McIntosh is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh
    • Tumwater
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Brookdale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brookdale.

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

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

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

  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Parkland Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Spanaway Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Fir Lane Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Woodbine Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Cemetery
    • The Woodbine Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Puyallup Cemetery
  • Mountain View Memorial Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Firwood Indian Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Pauper Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Tacoma Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma Cemetery
    • The Tacoma Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Oaklawn Cemetery
    • Old Tacoma Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #77080 <2>
  • Oakwood Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Hill Cemetery
    • The Oakwood Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Oak Wood Cemetery
    • Oak Wood Hill Cemetery
    • Oakwood Cemetery
    • Prairie Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1996538 <2>
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Pioneer Cemetery
    • The Old Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Rigney Cemetery
  • Continue List   (82 more) ...
    • Home of Peace Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Puyallup Tribal Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puyallup Tribal Cemetery
      • The Puyallup Tribal Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Cushman Cemetery
      • Indian Mission Cemetery
      • Puyallup Indian Cemetery
    • Sumner Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner Cemetery
      • The Sumner Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Sumner Pioneer Cemetery
      • Sumner Town 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.<3>

While we didn't find Brookdale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Brookdale.

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

  • Midland
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Midland is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
  • Parkland
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Fern Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Fern Hill is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern Hill
  • Meeker
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Meeker is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeker
  • Puyallup
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Excelsior
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Excelsior is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
  • Lakeview
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Lakeview is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
  • Hillhurst
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Hillhurst is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillhurst
  • McMillin
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • McMillin is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMillin
  • Alderton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Alderton is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderton
  • Lake City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lake City is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
  • Tacoma
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Orting
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Sumner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Steilacoom
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Brookdale ...

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 203 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brookdale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brookdale, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brookdale.

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 Brookdale:

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>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 Brookdale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Brookdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.