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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Mays. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Mays to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Mays, please Contact Us.

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 Mays (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 Mays. 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 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Mays is historic, it would have been located within present day Lewis 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 Lewis County: Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, Wahkiakum & Yakima.

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

  • Lewis County     (The home county of Mays)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mays, with the one closest to Mays listed first.
    • Fayette
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fayette. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
      • Fayette is located in Lewis County
    • Curtis
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Doty
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Adna
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Claquato
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claquato
      • Claquato is located in Lewis County
    • Pe Ell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Newaukum
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Newaukum. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newaukum
      • Newaukum is located in Lewis County
    • Chehalis
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Galvin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Centralia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Fords Prairie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fords Prairie have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Prairie
      • Fords Prairie is located in Lewis County
    • Napavine
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Cowlitz County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mays, with the one closest to Mays listed first.
    • Ryderwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryderwood
      • Ryderwood is located in Cowlitz County
    • Olequa
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Olequa. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olequa
      • Olequa is located in Cowlitz County
    • Castle Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Silver Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Oak Point
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Oak Point. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
      • Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County
    • Stella
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Stella. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
      • Stella is located in Cowlitz County
    • Toutle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Grays Harbor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mays, with the one closest to Mays listed first.
    • Chehalis Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Chehalis Village have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chehalis Village
      • Chehalis Village is located in Grays Harbor County
    • Oakville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Cedarville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cedarville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
      • Cedarville is located in Grays Harbor County
    • Porter
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Porter. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
      • Porter is located in Grays Harbor County
    • Malone - Porter
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone - Porter
      • Malone - Porter is located in Grays Harbor County
    • Malone
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Sine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sine
      • Sine is located in Grays Harbor County
    • Elma
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elma
      • Elma is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,378 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elma <3>
    • Garden City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Garden City have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
      • Garden City is located in Grays Harbor County
    • McCleary
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Brady
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brady
      • Brady is located in Grays Harbor County
    • Satsop
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Satsop have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Satsop
      • Satsop is located in Grays Harbor County
  • Pacific County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mays, with the one closest to Mays listed first.
    • Lebam
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Menlo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Menlo
      • Menlo is located in Pacific County
    • Raymond
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • South Bend
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mays, with the one closest to Mays listed first.
    • Independence
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Independence
      • Independence is located in Thurston County
    • Rochester
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Grand Mound
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Bordeaux ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bordeaux
      • Bordeaux is located in Thurston County
    • Bucoda
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Littlerock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Tenino
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • McIntosh
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh
      • McIntosh is located in Thurston County
    • East Olympia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Rainier
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Tumwater
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Kellys Korner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
      • Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
  • Wahkiakum County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Mays, with the one closest to Mays listed first.
    • Grays River
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Skamokawa
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Rosburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Mays ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mays.

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

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

  • Sylvan Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Claquato Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Finnish Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Finnish Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Finnish Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Fern Hill Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fern Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fern Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 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.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Washington Lawn Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Washington Lawn Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Washington Lawn Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mountain View Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenwood Memorial Park
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakville Pioneer Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakville Pioneer Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakville Pioneer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Snow Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Snow Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Snow Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Grand Mound Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grand Mound Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grand Mound Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Little Falls Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Little Falls Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Little Falls Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (32 more) ...
    • Forest Cemetery
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Forest Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Forest Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Sharon Cemetery
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sharon Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sharon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Lone Hill Cemetery
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lone Hill Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lone Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.

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

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

  • Fayette
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fayette. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette
    • Fayette is located in Lewis County
  • Pe Ell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Boistfort
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Boistfort have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boistfort
    • Boistfort is located in Lewis County
  • Claquato
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claquato
    • Claquato is located in Lewis County
  • Newaukum
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Newaukum. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newaukum
    • Newaukum is located in Lewis County
  • Chehalis
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Centralia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Wildwood
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wildwood have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Wildwood is located in Lewis County
  • Napavine
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Oakville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Grand Mound
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Rochester
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Winlock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedarville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cedarville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
      • Cedarville is located in Grays Harbor County
    • Lebam
      (18 miles [29 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 Mays. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mays.

Newspapers Published in Mays ...

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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mays.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mays, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mays.

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 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 Mays:

The official website for Lewis County: www.co.lewis.wa.us/

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

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Mays, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>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.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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.
<6>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- Mays) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Mays. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 46.6359, Longitude: -123.1768       In this case, the coordinates for Mays have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025