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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 Saint Clair (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 Saint Clair. 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 Saint Clair ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Saint Clair: St. Clair

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Saint Clair. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Saint Clair.

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 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.

Saint Clair is located in Thurston 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 Thurston County: Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason & Pierce.

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

  • Thurston County     (The home county of Saint Clair)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Clair, with the one closest to Saint Clair listed first.
    • Nisqually Indian Community
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Tanglewilde
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
    • Kellys Korner
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
    • Lacey
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Lacey is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,178 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lacey <1>
    • East Olympia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • North Yelm
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • North Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yelm
    • Yelm
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yelm
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,591 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Yelm <1>
    • Olympia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Tumwater
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Puget
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
    • Rainier
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • McIntosh
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • McIntosh is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh
    • Tenino
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Grays Harbor County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Clair, with the one closest to Saint Clair listed first.
    • Chehalis Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chehalis Village is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chehalis Village
    • McCleary Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • McCleary Junction is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCleary Junction
    • McCleary
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Sine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Sine is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sine
    • Oakville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Garden City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Garden City is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
    • Cedarville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cedarville is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarville
    • Malone - Porter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Malone - Porter is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malone - Porter
    • Malone
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Porter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Porter is located in Grays Harbor County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Clair, with the one closest to Saint Clair listed first.
    • Tahlequah
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Tahlequah is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
    • Milton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Buenna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
    • Magnolia Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Magnolia Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Beach
    • Pacific
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Algona
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Federal Way
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Redondo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Redondo is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redondo
    • Auburn
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Star Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Star Lake is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Lake
    • Woodmont Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodmont Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont Beach
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Clair, with the one closest to Saint Clair listed first.
    • Burley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Olalla
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Lewis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Clair, with the one closest to Saint Clair listed first.
    • Centralia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Fords Prairie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Fords Prairie is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fords Prairie
    • Galvin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Chehalis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Claquato
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Claquato is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claquato
    • Newaukum
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Newaukum is located in Lewis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newaukum
    • Cinebar
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Onalaska
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Clair, with the one closest to Saint Clair listed first.
    • New Kamilche
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • New Kamilche is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Kamilche
    • Grapeview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Bayshore
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayshore is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
    • Shelton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Allyn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Tahuya
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Union ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Belfair
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Skokomish
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Skokomish is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skokomish
    • Mohrweis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Mohrweis is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohrweis
  • Pierce County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Saint Clair, with the one closest to Saint Clair listed first.
    • DuPont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Mock City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mock City is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mock City
    • Fort Lewis
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Roy
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Roy is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roy
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 823 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roy <1>
    • Anderson Island
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Anderson Island is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson Island
    • McKenna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Tillicum
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Tillicum is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillicum
    • Lake City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake City is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Steilacoom
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Longbranch
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Meridian
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Meridian is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
    • Gertrude
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Gertrude is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gertrude
    • Clover Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Clover Park is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Park

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

Cemeteries Near Saint Clair ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Saint Clair.

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 Saint Clair - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Woodlawn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Ross Family Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Tabor Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • King Hill Pioneer Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King Hill Pioneer Cemetery
    • The King Hill Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
    • King Hill Indian Cemetery
  • Ft. Lewis Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Rainier Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Roy Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Mills & Mills Memorial Park
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • 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>
  • Union Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Anderson Island Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Yelm Rainier Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Steilacoom Masonic Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (69 more) ...
    • Smith Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Cemetery
      • The Smith Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Henry Smith Cemetery
    • Jeschke Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Wren Family Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 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 Saint Clair in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Saint Clair.

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

  • Lacey
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Lacey is located in Thurston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 54,178 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lacey <1>
  • Yelm
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Yelm is located in Thurston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yelm
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,591 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Yelm <1>
  • Roy
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Roy is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roy
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 823 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roy <1>
  • Olympia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Tumwater
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Plumb
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Plumb is located in Thurston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumb
  • Puget
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Puget is located in Thurston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
  • Belmore
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Belmore is located in Thurston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belmore
  • McIntosh
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • McIntosh is located in Thurston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh
  • Hillhurst
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillhurst is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillhurst
  • Lake City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake City is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
  • Steilacoom
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Tenino
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Meridian
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Meridian is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
    • Longbranch
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Saint Clair ...

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 151 newspapers that have been published in the area around Saint Clair.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Saint Clair, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Saint Clair.

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 Saint Clair:

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