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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 Foster (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 Foster. 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 doctors 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.

Foster is located in King 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 King County: Chelan, Kittitas, Pierce & Snohomish.

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

  • King County     (The home county of Foster)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Tukwila
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Riverton-Boulevard Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Riverton Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Riverton Heights is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton Heights
    • Renton
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • SeaTac
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Orillia
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Orillia is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Burien
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Seward Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Seward Park is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seward Park
    • Van Asselt
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Van Asselt is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Asselt
    • White Center
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • White Center is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Center
    • Normandy Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • North Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • North Hill is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hill
    • Seahurst
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Seahurst is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seahurst
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Southworth
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Southworth is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
    • Olalla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • South Colby
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • South Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Colby
    • Fort Ward
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Ward is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Ward
    • Port Blakely ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Port Blakely is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Blakely
    • Colby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Colchester
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Colchester is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colchester
    • Manchester
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Yeomalt
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Yeomalt is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeomalt
    • South Park Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Bainbridge Island
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bainbridge Island is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,358 people
      • Bainbridge Island has also been known as:
      • Winslow
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bainbridge Island <1>
    • Bethel
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • East Port Orchard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Belfair
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Allyn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Grapeview
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Pierce County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Dash Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Dash Point is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dash Point
    • Northeast Tacoma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Northeast Tacoma is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northeast Tacoma
    • Edgewood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Gardenville ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Gardenville is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardenville
    • Ruston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ruston is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
    • Fife
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Lake Tapps
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Lake Tapps is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tapps
    • Gig Harbor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Tacoma
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Firwood ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Firwood is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Firwood
    • North Puyallup
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • North Puyallup is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Puyallup
    • Wauna
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Wauna is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauna
    • Sumner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • Snohomish County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster, with the one closest to Foster listed first.
    • Brier
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Brier is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,955 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brier <1>
    • Esperance
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Esperance is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esperance
    • Mountlake Terrace
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Canyon Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Canyon Park is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Park
    • Woodway
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Woodway is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,391 people
    • Alderwood Manor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Alderwood Manor is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderwood Manor
    • Edmonds
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Lynnwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Maltby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Maltby is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maltby
    • North Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • North Creek is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Creek
    • Echo Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Echo Lake is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo Lake
    • Clearview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Clearview is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearview
    • Martha Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Martha Lake is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martha Lake

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

Cemeteries Near Foster ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Foster.

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

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

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

  • Riverton Crest Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Highview Recreational Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Washington Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Comet Lodge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet Lodge Cemetery
    • The Comet Lodge Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Georgetown Cemetery
    • Graham Street Burying Ground
  • St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
    • The St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Patricks Cemetery
    • White River Cemetery
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Saar Pioneer Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Episcopal Church Of The Holy Spirit Memory Garden
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Suise Creek Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Sunset Hills Memorial Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (100 more) ...
    • Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Penbrock Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Tahoma National Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahoma National Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Tahoma National Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located 6 miles [9.7 km]<3> to the east of Kent.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #109448 <2>

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

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

  • Duwamish
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Duwamish is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duwamish
  • Latona ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Latona is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latona
  • Sunnydale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunnydale is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnydale
  • Renton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Orillia
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Orillia is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
  • Van Asselt
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Van Asselt is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Asselt
  • May Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • May Creek is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May Creek
  • Des Moines
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • O'Brien
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • O'Brien is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Brien
  • Elliott
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Elliott is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
  • Newcastle
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Kent
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Kent is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 130,676 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kent <1>
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Coal Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Coal Creek is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
    • Vashon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Chautauqua
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Chautauqua is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua

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

Newspapers Published in Foster ...

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 634 newspapers that have been published in the area around Foster.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Foster, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Foster.

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 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 Foster:

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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Foster) 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 Foster, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.