Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Port Arthur. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Port Arthur to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Port Arthur, 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 Port Arthur (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 Port Arthur. 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 Port Arthur ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Port Arthur: Prt. Arthur
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Port Arthur. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Port Arthur.
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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Port Arthur is historic, it would have been located within present day Island 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 Island County: Jefferson, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit & Snohomish.
Below are the counties that are near Port Arthur. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Port Arthur:
- Island County (The home county of Port Arthur)
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Coupeville
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- San de Fuca
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- San de Fuca is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
- Oak Harbor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Camano
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Greenbank
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Juniper Beach
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Juniper Beach is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniper Beach
- Camp Diana
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Camp Diana is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Diana
- Freeland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bay View
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bay View is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
- Langley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Clinton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Clallam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Port Williams
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Port Williams is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Williams
- Blyn
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Blyn is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyn
- Bell Hill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bell Hill is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Hill
- Sequim
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Old Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Old Town is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- River Road
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- River Road is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
- Carlsborg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Little Oklahoma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Little Oklahoma is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Oklahoma
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Port Townsend
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Marrowstone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Nordland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Irondale ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Irondale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
- Port Hadlock - Irondale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Port Hadlock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Adelma Beach
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Adelma Beach is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelma Beach
- Chimacum
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Gardiner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beaver Valley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Beaver Valley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Valley
- Port Ludlow
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Leland
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Leland is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Kitsap County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Hansville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Port Gamble
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Lofall
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lofall is located in Kitsap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lofall
- Kingston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- San Juan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Decatur Island
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Lopez Island
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lopez Island is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez Island
- Lopez
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Lopez is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez
- Argyle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Argyle is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- False Bay
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Friday Harbor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shaw Island
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Shaw Island is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw Island
- Olga
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Orcas
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Skagit County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Shelter Bay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shelter Bay is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelter Bay
- Fish Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fish Town is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Town
- La Conner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Snee Oosh
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Snee Oosh is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snee Oosh
- Swinomish Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Swinomish Village is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swinomish Village
- Similk Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Similk Beach is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Similk Beach
- Alexander Beach
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Alexander Beach is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Beach
- Conway
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Skagit City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Skagit City is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skagit City
- Anacortes
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bay View
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bay View is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
- Mount Vernon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Snohomish County
- The following are listed by their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Utsalady
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Utsalady is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utsalady
- Stanwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Warm Beach
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Warm Beach is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warm Beach
- Florence
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Florence is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Lake Ketchum
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Lake Ketchum is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ketchum
- McKees Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- McKees Beach is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKees Beach
- North Stanwood
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- North Stanwood is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Stanwood
- Lake Goodwin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lake Goodwin is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Goodwin
- Weallup Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Weallup Lake is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weallup Lake
- Spee-Bi-Dah
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Spee-Bi-Dah is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spee-Bi-Dah
- Cathan
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cathan is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cathan
- Silvana
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Port Arthur, see our County-by-County Page for Port Arthur.
Cemeteries Near Port Arthur ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Port Arthur.
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 Port Arthur - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Port Arthur covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Sunnyside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Laurel Grove Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Maple Leaf Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sound View Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Camano Lutheran Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Camano Island Pioneer Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Our Saviours Lutheran Church Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fern Hill Cemetery
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Jamestown Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Scandinavian Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scandinavian Cemetery
- The Scandinavian Cemetery has also been known as:
- Old Milltown Cemetery
- Old Milltown Lutheran Cemetery
- Scandinavian Lutheran Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2168007 <3>
- Skagit City Cemetery
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (26 more) ...
- Sequim View Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Grandview Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pleasant View Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 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.
While we didn't find Port Arthur in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Port Arthur.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Port Arthur, with the one closest to Port Arthur listed first.
- Coupeville
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- San de Fuca
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- San de Fuca is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
- Port Townsend
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oak Harbor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Irondale ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Irondale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
- Chimacum
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Port Discovery ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Port Discovery is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Discovery
- La Conner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stanwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Gibraltar
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Gibraltar is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibraltar
- Port Williams
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Port Williams is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Williams
- Florence
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Florence is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Blyn
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Blyn is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyn
- Langley
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Richardson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Richardson is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Port Arthur. See our List of 1890's Communities around Port Arthur.
Newspapers Published in Port Arthur ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Port Arthur.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Port Arthur, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Port Arthur.
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 helpful 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 Port Arthur:
- Websites specific to Washington
- Pages specific to Island County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clallam County
- Jefferson County
- Kitsap County
- San Juan County
- Skagit County
- Snohomish County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Washington
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 Port Arthur, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Port Arthur) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |