RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Washington >> Whitman County >> Colfax >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Washington

The Commemorative Quarter for Washington





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 Colfax (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 Colfax. 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.

Colfax is located in Whitman County and is the County Seat.

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 Whitman County: Benewah (ID), Latah (ID), Nez Perce (ID), Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln & Spokane.

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

  • Whitman County     (The home county of Colfax)
  • Garfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
    • Mayview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mayview. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayview
      • Mayview is located in Garfield County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mayview
      • From Colfax to Mayview
    • Gould City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gould City have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gould City
      • Gould City is located in Garfield County
    • Pataha
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Pomeroy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Spokane County
  • Benewah County (ID)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
    • De Smet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for De Smet have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Smet
      • De Smet is located in Benewah County (ID)
    • Tensed
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Willard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Latah County (ID)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colfax, with the one closest to Colfax listed first.
    • Viola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Viola have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
      • Viola is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Viola <2>
    • Freeze
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Potlatch Junction
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Cora
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cora. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cora
      • Cora is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cora
      • From Colfax to Cora
    • Moscow
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Moscow have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
      • Moscow is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,128 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Moscow <2>
    • Onaway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Onaway have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onaway
      • Onaway is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 198 people
    • Potlatch
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Princeton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Princeton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princeton
      • Princeton is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Princeton <2>
    • Howell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Howell. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
      • Howell is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Howell
      • From Colfax to Howell
    • Troy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Troy have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
      • Troy is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 913 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Troy <2>
    • Harvard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Harvard have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
      • Harvard is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Harvard <2>
    • Genesee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Genesee have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genesee
      • Genesee is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 976 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Genesee <2>
    • Lenville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lenville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lenville
      • Lenville is located in Latah County (ID)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Lenville
      • From Colfax to Lenville
  • Nez Perce County (ID)
    • Leon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Leon. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leon
      • Leon is located in Nez Perce County (ID)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Leon
      • From Colfax to Leon

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

Cemeteries Near Colfax ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colfax.

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

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

  • Colfax Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Olivet Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Stipe Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Davis Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Davis Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Davis Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Guy Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Guy Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Guy Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Onecho Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Onecho Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Onecho Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Moys Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Moys Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Moys Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Pitts Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pitts Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pitts Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Eden Valley Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Eden Valley Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Eden Valley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Garfield Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Garfield Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Garfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Spalding Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Spalding Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Spalding Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (33 more) ...
    • Farr Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Farr Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Farr Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Greenwood Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenwood Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Pullman City Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Colfax had a population of 1,649 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Colfax had a population of 2,787 people.

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

  • Mockonema
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mockonema have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mockonema
    • Mockonema is located in Whitman County
  • Glenwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Glenwood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
    • Glenwood is located in Whitman County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Glenwood
    • From Colfax to Glenwood
  • Shawnee
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Shawnee. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawnee
    • Shawnee is located in Whitman County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Shawnee
    • From Colfax to Shawnee
  • Diamond
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Diamond have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond
    • Diamond is located in Whitman County
  • Steptoe
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Elberton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Fallon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fallon have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fallon
    • Fallon is located in Whitman County
  • Almota
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Almota. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almota
    • Almota is located in Whitman County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Almota
    • From Colfax to Almota
  • Pullman
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Whelan
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Whelan have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whelan
    • Whelan is located in Whitman County
  • Palouse
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Garfield
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Eden
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Eden. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
      • Eden is located in Whitman County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Eden
      • From Colfax to Eden
    • Pullman Junction
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pullman Junction have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pullman Junction
      • Pullman Junction is located in Whitman County
    • Endicott
      (15 miles [24.1 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 Colfax. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colfax.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Colfax ...

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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colfax.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Colfax. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Colfax and those printed in the larger area surrounding Colfax.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Colfax.

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 Colfax:

The official website for Colfax: www.ci.colfax.wa.us/

The official website for Whitman County: www.whitmancounty.org/

The official website for State of Washington: https://wa.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<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 Colfax, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Colfax) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Colfax. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 46.8847, Longitude: -117.3644    









 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025