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 Rosedale (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 Rosedale. 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.
Rosedale is located in Pierce 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 Pierce County: King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Thurston & Yakima.
Below are the counties that are near Rosedale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rosedale:
- Pierce County (The home county of Rosedale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rosedale, with the one closest to Rosedale listed first.
- Artondale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Artondale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
- Artondale is located in Pierce County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Artondale
- From Rosedale to Artondale
- Gig Harbor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Wauna
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cromwell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Fox Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Vaughn
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Home
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ruston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ruston have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruston
- Ruston is located in Pierce County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
- Lakebay
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gertrude
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Meridian
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Meridian. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Meridian is located in Pierce County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Meridian
- From Rosedale to Meridian
- University Place
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County
- Brinnon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- King County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rosedale, with the one closest to Rosedale listed first.
- Tahlequah
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Magnolia Beach
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Vashon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buenna
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Buenna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
- Buenna is located in King County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Buenna
- From Rosedale to Buenna
- Vashon Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Federal Way
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Redondo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Zenith
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Des Moines
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Milton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- North Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hill
- North Hill is located in King County
- Normandy Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kitsap County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rosedale, with the one closest to Rosedale listed first.
- Burley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Olalla
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- East Port Orchard
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Gorst
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Colby
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Parkwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Parkwood have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
- Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
- Port Orchard
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Retsil
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- South Colby
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- South Park Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Southworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rosedale, with the one closest to Rosedale listed first.
- Allyn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Grapeview
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Belfair
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Bayshore
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Tahuya
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Union ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Union. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
- Union is located in Mason County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Union
- From Rosedale to Union
- Shelton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hoodsport
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Lilliwaup
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Potlatch
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Skokomish
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- New Kamilche
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Thurston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rosedale, with the one closest to Rosedale listed first.
- Puget
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tanglewilde
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lacey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Nisqually Indian Community
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Olympia
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Kellys Korner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- North Yelm
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Yelm have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yelm
- North Yelm is located in Thurston County
- Tumwater
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Olympia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Yelm
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Rainier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rosedale, see our County-by-County Page for Rosedale.
Cemeteries Near Rosedale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rosedale.
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 Rosedale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rosedale, with the one closest to Rosedale listed first.
- Rosedale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Artondale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Haven of Rest Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Cromwell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Minter Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Minter Cemetery
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for the Minter Cemetery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Minter Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<5> to the east of Wauna.
- The Minter Cemetery has also been known as:
- Elgin Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to the Minter Cemetery
- From Rosedale to the Minter Cemetery
- Gig Harbor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Fox Island Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Vaughn Bay Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lakebay Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- German Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Longbranch Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (95 more) ...
- New Tacoma Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fraola Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Fraola Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Fraola Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Ft. Steilacoom Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
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.<6>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Rosedale had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rosedale, with the one closest to Rosedale listed first.
- Artondale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Artondale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
- Artondale is located in Pierce County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Artondale
- From Rosedale to Artondale
- Minter
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Minter have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
- Minter is located in Pierce County
- Gig Harbor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Purdy
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Purdy have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
- Purdy is located in Pierce County
- Fox Island
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Wollochet
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wollochet have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wollochet
- Wollochet is located in Pierce County
- Vaughn
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Lakebay
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Meridian
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Meridian. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Meridian is located in Pierce County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Meridian
- From Rosedale to Meridian
- Olalla
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Allyn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Longbranch
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Steilacoom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Tacoma
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Excelsior
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Excelsior have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
- Excelsior is located in Pierce County
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rosedale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rosedale.
Newspapers Published in Rosedale ...
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 169 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rosedale.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rosedale, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rosedale.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Rosedale:
- Websites specific to Washington
- Pages specific to Pierce County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Jefferson County
- King County
- Kitsap County
- Mason County
- Thurston County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Washington
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Rosedale. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Pierce County: www.co.pierce.wa.us/
The official website for State of Washington: https://wa.gov/
Footnotes ...
<1> | 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. |
<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 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. |
<4> | 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. |
<5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Rosedale) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Rosedale. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 47.3314, Longitude: -122.6533 |
<6> | 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 Rosedale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |