RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Washington >> King County >> Riverton >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Riverton (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 Riverton. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

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 south 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.

Riverton is located in King 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 King County: Chelan, Kittitas, Pierce & Snohomish.

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

  • King County     (The home county of Riverton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverton, with the one closest to Riverton listed first.
    • Riverton-Boulevard Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Riverton Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Riverton Heights is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverton Heights
    • Tukwila
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • SeaTac
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Burien
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Renton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • White Center
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • White Center is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Center
    • Orillia
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Orillia is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
    • Normandy Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Seahurst
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Seahurst is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seahurst
    • Seward Park
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Seward Park is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seward Park
    • North Hill
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • North Hill is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hill
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverton, with the one closest to Riverton listed first.
    • Southworth
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Southworth is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
    • South Colby
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • South Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Colby
    • Fort Ward
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Ward is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Ward
    • Port Blakely ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Port Blakely is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Blakely
    • Colby
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • Colchester
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Colchester is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colchester
    • Manchester
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Olalla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Yeomalt
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Yeomalt is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yeomalt
    • South Park Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Bainbridge Island
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bainbridge Island is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bainbridge Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,358 people
      • Bainbridge Island has also been known as:
      • Winslow
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bainbridge Island <1>
    • Bethel
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverton, with the one closest to Riverton listed first.
    • Belfair
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Allyn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Grapeview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Pierce County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverton, with the one closest to Riverton listed first.
    • Dash Point
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Dash Point is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dash Point
    • Northeast Tacoma
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Northeast Tacoma is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northeast Tacoma
    • Edgewood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Gardenville ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Gardenville is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardenville
    • Ruston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ruston is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
    • Fife
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Fife is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fife
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,458 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fife <1>
    • Lake Tapps
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Lake Tapps is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tapps
    • Tacoma
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Gig Harbor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wauna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Wauna is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauna
    • Firwood ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Firwood is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Firwood
    • Artondale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Artondale is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
  • Snohomish County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riverton, with the one closest to Riverton listed first.
    • Brier
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Brier is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,955 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brier <1>
    • Esperance
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Esperance is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esperance
    • Mountlake Terrace
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Woodway
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Woodway is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,391 people
    • Canyon Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Canyon Park is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Park
    • Edmonds
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Alderwood Manor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Alderwood Manor is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderwood Manor
    • Lynnwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Maltby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Maltby is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maltby
    • North Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • North Creek is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Creek
    • Echo Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Echo Lake is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Echo Lake
    • Clearview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Clearview is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clearview

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

Cemeteries Near Riverton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riverton.

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 Riverton - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Highview Recreational Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Riverton Crest Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Washington Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery
    • The St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Patricks Cemetery
    • White River Cemetery
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Comet Lodge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comet Lodge Cemetery
    • The Comet Lodge Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Georgetown Cemetery
    • Graham Street Burying Ground
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Saar Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Episcopal Church Of The Holy Spirit Memory Garden
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Penbrock Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Suise Creek Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (100 more) ...
    • Sunset Hills Memorial Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Gar Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)

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 Riverton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riverton.

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

  • Latona ‑ Historic
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Latona is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Latona
  • Duwamish
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Duwamish is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duwamish
  • Sunnydale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunnydale is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnydale
  • Orillia
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Orillia is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orillia
  • Renton
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Van Asselt
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Van Asselt is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Asselt
  • Des Moines
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • O'Brien
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • O'Brien is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Brien
  • May Creek
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • May Creek is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May Creek
  • Chautauqua
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Chautauqua is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua
  • Maury
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Maury is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maury
  • Kent
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Kent is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kent
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 130,676 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kent <1>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Elliott
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Elliott is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
    • Newcastle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • West Seattle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • West Seattle is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Seattle

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

Newspapers Published in Riverton ...

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 640 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riverton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riverton, there are papers which were published within 10 miles [16.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riverton.

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 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 Riverton:

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 Riverton, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Riverton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.