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 Oakland (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 Oakland. 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 Oakland ...
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.
In past government published Postal Guides, Oakland was referred to as Oakland Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oakland. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oakland.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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.
Oakland is located in Mason 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 Mason County: Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Pierce & Thurston.
Below are the counties that are near Oakland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oakland:
- Mason County (The home county of Oakland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Bayshore
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Bayshore is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
- Shelton
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- New Kamilche
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- New Kamilche is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Kamilche
- Union ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Skokomish
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Skokomish is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skokomish
- Mohrweis
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mohrweis is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohrweis
- Tahuya
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Potlatch
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hoodsport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Grapeview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Allyn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lilliwaup
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Matlock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Matlock is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matlock
- Grays Harbor County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- McCleary Junction
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- McCleary Junction is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCleary Junction
- McCleary
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Garden City is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Sine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sine is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sine
- Elma
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Elma is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,378 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elma <1>
- Malone - Porter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Malone - Porter is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone - Porter
- Malone
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Porter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Porter is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Satsop
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Satsop is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Satsop
- Brady
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Brady is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brady
- Cedarville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cedarville is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
- Oakville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Grisdale ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Grisdale is located in Grays Harbor County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grisdale
- King County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Tahlequah
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Tahlequah is located in King County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
- Magnolia Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Magnolia Beach is located in King County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Beach
- Kitsap County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Holly
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Holly is located in Kitsap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
- Burley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Crosby
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Crosby is located in Kitsap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crosby
- Gorst
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Olalla
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- East Port Orchard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
- Navy Yard City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Navy Yard City is located in Kitsap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navy Yard City
- Port Orchard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Seabeck
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Erlands Point - Kitsap Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Parkwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Retsil
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Retsil is located in Kitsap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retsil
- Pierce County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Herron Island
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Home
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Home is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home
- Lakebay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Longbranch
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Meridian
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Meridian is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Vaughn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vaughn is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn
- Anderson Island
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Anderson Island is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Island
- Gertrude
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Gertrude is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gertrude
- Fox Island
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rosedale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Rosedale is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
- Artondale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Artondale is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
- Cromwell
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cromwell is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
- DuPont
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Thurston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Puget
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Puget is located in Thurston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
- Olympia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Tumwater
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lacey
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Tanglewilde
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
- East Olympia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Kellys Korner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
- Bordeaux ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Bordeaux is located in Thurston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bordeaux
- Littlerock
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Nisqually Indian Community
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Rochester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Tenino
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Grand Mound
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oakland, see our County-by-County Page for Oakland.
Cemeteries Near Oakland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakland.
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 Oakland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oakland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Oakland Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Shelton Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Miller Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Squaxin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- McLane Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McLane Cemetery
- The McLane Cemetery has also been known as:
- Mud Bay Cemetery
- Longbranch Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- German Lutheran Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for German Lutheran Cemetery
- The German Lutheran Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lakebay German Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
- Old German Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
- Lakebay Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- McCleary Pythian Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Tabor Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vaughn Bay Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn Bay Cemetery
- The Vaughn Bay Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bayview Cemetery
- Niemann Family Cemetery
- Union Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (48 more) ...
- Mills & Mills Memorial Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mills & Mills Memorial Park
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Mills & Mills Memorial Park is located outside and to the southwest of Tumwater.
- The Mills & Mills Memorial Park has also been known as:
- Olympic Memorial Garden Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #76974 <2>
- Anderson Island Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
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 Oakland in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oakland.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Shelton
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Kamilche
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Kamilche is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kamilche
- New Kamilche
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- New Kamilche is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Kamilche
- Union ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Union is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Hoodsport
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Puget
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Puget is located in Thurston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
- Longbranch
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lakebay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Dewatto
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Dewatto is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewatto
- Olympia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Allyn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tumwater
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Meridian
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Meridian is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Vaughn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Vaughn is located in Pierce County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn
- Matlock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Matlock is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matlock
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oakland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oakland.
Newspapers Published in Oakland ...
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 121 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oakland, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oakland.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Oakland:
- Websites specific to Washington
- Pages specific to Mason County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Grays Harbor County
- King County
- Kitsap County
- Pierce County
- Thurston County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Washington
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 Oakland, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Oakland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |