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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 Lake City (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 Lake City. 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.

Name Variations for Lake City ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Lake City: Lk. City

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Lake City. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Lake City.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 and 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.

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

  • Pierce County     (The home county of Lake City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake City, with the one closest to Lake City listed first.
    • Clover Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Clover Park is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Park
    • Tillicum
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Tillicum is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillicum
    • Lakewood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Steilacoom
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Fort Lewis
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Parkland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • University Place
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • DuPont
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fircrest
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Spanaway
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fox Island
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Anderson Island
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Anderson Island is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Island
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake City, with the one closest to Lake City listed first.
    • Tahlequah
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Tahlequah is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
    • Milton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Buenna
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
    • Magnolia Beach
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Magnolia Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Beach
    • Algona
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Federal Way
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pacific
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Redondo
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Redondo is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redondo
    • Auburn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Star Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Star Lake is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Lake
    • Woodmont Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodmont Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont Beach
    • Zenith
      (19 miles [30.6 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 Lake City, with the one closest to Lake City listed first.
    • Burley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Olalla
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Bethel
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • South Colby
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • South Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Colby
    • Southworth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Southworth is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
    • Colby
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • East Port Orchard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
    • Parkwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • South Park Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Colchester
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Colchester is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colchester
    • Gorst
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Port Orchard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake City, with the one closest to Lake City listed first.
    • Grapeview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Allyn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Belfair
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bayshore
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Bayshore is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
    • New Kamilche
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • New Kamilche is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Kamilche
    • Shelton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Tahuya
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Union ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake City, with the one closest to Lake City listed first.
    • Nisqually Indian Community
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Puget
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
    • Tanglewilde
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
    • North Yelm
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • North Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yelm
    • Yelm
      (14 miles [22.5 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>
    • Lacey
      (14 miles [22.5 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>
    • Kellys Korner
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
    • East Olympia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Olympia
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Rainier
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Tumwater
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • McIntosh
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • McIntosh is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh

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

Cemeteries Near Lake City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lake City.

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 Lake City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Old Settlers Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Settlers Cemetery
    • The Old Settlers Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Gravelly Lake Cemetery
  • Steilacoom Masonic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Western State Hospital Memorial Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Ft. Steilacoom Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Home of Peace Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Byrd Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Mountain View Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Old Pioneer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Pioneer Cemetery
    • The Old Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Rigney Cemetery
  • New Tacoma Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Pauper Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakwood Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • 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 <3>
  • Continue List   (87 more) ...
    • Tacoma Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • 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 <3>
    • Ft. Lewis Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Spanaway Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Lake City had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Lakeview
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Lakeview is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
  • Steilacoom
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Hillhurst
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillhurst is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillhurst
  • Parkland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Fern Hill
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Fern Hill is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern Hill
  • Excelsior
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Excelsior is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
  • Fox Island
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Midland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Midland is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
  • Wollochet
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Wollochet is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wollochet
  • Tacoma
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Meridian
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Meridian is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
  • Artondale
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Artondale is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Roy
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Roy is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 823 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roy <1>
    • Longbranch
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Puget
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget

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

Newspapers Published in Lake City ...

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 205 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lake City.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lake City, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lake City.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Lake City:

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