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 Richardson (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 Richardson. 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.
Richardson is located in San Juan 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 San Juan County: Island, Skagit & Whatcom.
Below are the counties that are near Richardson. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Richardson:
- San Juan County (The home county of Richardson)
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Lopez Island
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lopez Island is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez Island
- Lopez
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lopez is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez
- Decatur Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Argyle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Argyle is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Friday Harbor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Shaw Island
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Shaw Island is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw Island
- False Bay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Orcas
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Olga
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Deer Harbor
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Roche Harbor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Eastsound
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Waldron
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Waldron is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
- Clallam County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Old Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Old Town is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Port Williams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Port Williams is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Williams
- Sequim
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Carlsborg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bell Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Bell Hill is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Hill
- River Road
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- River Road is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
- Blyn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Blyn is located in Clallam County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyn
- Island County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Oak Harbor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- San de Fuca
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- San de Fuca is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
- Coupeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Camano
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Juniper Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Juniper Beach is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniper Beach
- Greenbank
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Port Townsend
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Adelma Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Adelma Beach is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelma Beach
- Gardiner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Irondale ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Irondale is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
- Marrowstone
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Nordland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Port Hadlock - Irondale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Port Hadlock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Chimacum
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Skagit County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Alexander Beach
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Alexander Beach is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Beach
- Anacortes
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Similk Beach
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Similk Beach is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Similk Beach
- Indian Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Village is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Urban
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Urban is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urban
- Snee Oosh
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Snee Oosh is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snee Oosh
- La Conner
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Shelter Bay
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Shelter Bay is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelter Bay
- Swinomish Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Swinomish Village is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swinomish Village
- Bay View
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Bay View is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
- Fish Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fish Town is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Town
- Edison
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Edison is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edison
- Bow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Snohomish County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Utsalady
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Utsalady is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utsalady
- Lake Ketchum
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Ketchum is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ketchum
- North Stanwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Stanwood is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Stanwood
- Stanwood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Florence
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Florence is located in Snohomish County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
- Whatcom County
- The following are listed by their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Lummi Island
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chuckanut Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Chuckanut Village is located in Whatcom County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chuckanut Village
- Lummi
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lummi is located in Whatcom County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lummi
- Marietta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Marietta is located in Whatcom County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
- Bellingham
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ferndale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Geneva
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Geneva is located in Whatcom County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Silver Beach
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Silver Beach is located in Whatcom County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Beach
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Richardson, see our County-by-County Page for Richardson.
Cemeteries Near Richardson ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Richardson.
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 Richardson - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Richardson covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Lopez Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Shaw Island Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Olga - Doe Bay Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Grandview Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Fern Hill Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Eden Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Leaf Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Sunnyside Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bay View Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Harling Point Chinese Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Congregation Emanu-El Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Continue List (28 more) ...
- Ross Bay Cemetery
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Quadra Street Cemetery
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Richardson had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Richardson, with the one closest to Richardson listed first.
- Lopez Island
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Lopez Island is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez Island
- Decatur Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Friday Harbor
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Argyle
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Argyle is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Orcas
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Olga
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Anacortes
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Guemes
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Guemes is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Guemes
- Gibraltar
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Gibraltar is located in Skagit County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibraltar
- Doe Bay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Doe Bay is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doe Bay
- Oak Harbor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Roche Harbor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Eastsound
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- San de Fuca
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- San de Fuca is located in Island County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
- Waldron
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Waldron is located in San Juan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldron
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Richardson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Richardson.
Newspapers Published in Richardson ...
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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Richardson.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Richardson, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Richardson.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Richardson:
- Websites specific to Washington
- Pages specific to San Juan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clallam County
- Island County
- Jefferson County
- Skagit County
- Snohomish County
- Whatcom 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 Richardson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <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- Richardson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |