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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 Shore Acres (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 Shore Acres. 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.

Shore Acres is located in Pierce 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 Pierce County: King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Thurston & Yakima.

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

  • Pierce County     (The home county of Shore Acres)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shore Acres, with the one closest to Shore Acres listed first.
    • Gig Harbor
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Ruston
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Ruston is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
    • Artondale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Artondale is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
    • Cromwell
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Cromwell is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
    • Fox Island
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Rosedale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Rosedale is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
    • Wauna
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wauna is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauna
    • University Place
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Fircrest
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Dash Point
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Dash Point is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dash Point
    • Tacoma
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Gertrude
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Gertrude is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gertrude
  • Jefferson County
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shore Acres, with the one closest to Shore Acres listed first.
    • Tahlequah
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Tahlequah is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
    • Magnolia Beach
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Magnolia Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Beach
    • Buenna
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
    • Vashon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Redondo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Redondo is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redondo
    • Federal Way
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Milton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Woodmont Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Woodmont Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont Beach
    • Zenith
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Zenith is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith
    • Des Moines
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Normandy Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • North Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • 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 Shore Acres, with the one closest to Shore Acres listed first.
    • Burley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Olalla
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Bethel
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • South Colby
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • South Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Colby
    • Southworth
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Southworth is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
    • Colby
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • East Port Orchard
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
    • Parkwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • South Park Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Colchester
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Colchester is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colchester
    • Manchester
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Gorst
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shore Acres, with the one closest to Shore Acres listed first.
    • Grapeview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Allyn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Belfair
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bayshore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Bayshore is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
    • Tahuya
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Union ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Shelton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • New Kamilche
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • New Kamilche is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Kamilche
    • Hoodsport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Lilliwaup
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Potlatch
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Skokomish
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Skokomish is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skokomish
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Shore Acres, with the one closest to Shore Acres listed first.
    • Puget
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
    • Tanglewilde
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
    • Nisqually Indian Community
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Lacey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Kellys Korner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
    • North Yelm
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • North Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yelm
    • Olympia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Yelm
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • East Olympia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Tumwater
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Rainier
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Shore Acres ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shore Acres.

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 Shore Acres - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Artondale Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Gig Harbor Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gig Harbor Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Gig Harbor Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Gig Harbor.
    • The Gig Harbor Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Cresent Valley Cemetery
  • Haven of Rest Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haven of Rest Cemetery
    • Former name for Haven of Rest Cemetery:
    • Perkins Cemetery
  • Cromwell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell Cemetery
    • The Cromwell Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Hales Passage Cemetery
    • Hales Passage Scandinavian Lutheran Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2259125 <2>
  • Rosedale Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Fox Island Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • New Tacoma Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Minter Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Minter Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<3> to the west of Wauna.
    • The Minter Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Elgin Cemetery
  • Hillcrest Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Byrd Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Old Pioneer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Pioneer Cemetery
    • The Old Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Rigney Cemetery
  • Calvary Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (103 more) ...
    • Oakwood Hill Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Hill Cemetery
      • The Oakwood Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Oak Wood Cemetery
      • Oak Wood Hill Cemetery
      • Oakwood Cemetery
      • Prairie Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1996538 <2>
    • Pauper Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Tacoma Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tacoma Cemetery
      • The Tacoma Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Oaklawn Cemetery
      • Old Tacoma Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #77080 <2>

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.<4>

While we didn't find Shore Acres in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Shore Acres.

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

  • Gig Harbor
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Artondale
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Artondale is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
  • Wollochet
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Wollochet is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wollochet
  • Fox Island
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Rosedale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Rosedale is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
  • Purdy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Purdy is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
  • Minter
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Minter is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
  • Tacoma
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Olalla
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Lakebay
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Meridian
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Meridian is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
  • Steilacoom
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Excelsior
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Excelsior is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
    • Vaughn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Vaughn is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn
    • Lakeview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Lakeview is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview

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

Newspapers Published in Shore Acres ...

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 179 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shore Acres.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shore Acres, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shore Acres.

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 websites either 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 Shore Acres:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Shore Acres) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Shore Acres, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.