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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 Sunlight Beach (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 Sunlight Beach. 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 Sunlight Beach ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Sunlight Beach: Sunlight Bch.

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 southeast 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 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.

Sunlight Beach is located in Island 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 Island County: Jefferson, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit & Snohomish.

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

  • Island County     (The home county of Sunlight Beach)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight Beach, with the one closest to Sunlight Beach listed first.
    • Bay View
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Bay View is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Freeland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Langley
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Clinton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Camp Diana
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Camp Diana is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Diana
    • Greenbank
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Camano
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Juniper Beach
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Juniper Beach is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniper Beach
    • Coupeville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • San de Fuca
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • San de Fuca is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
    • Oak Harbor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Clallam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight Beach, with the one closest to Sunlight Beach listed first.
    • Blyn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Blyn is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyn
    • Port Williams
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Port Williams is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Williams
    • Bell Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bell Hill is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Hill
    • Sequim
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • River Road
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • River Road is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight Beach, with the one closest to Sunlight Beach listed first.
    • Marrowstone
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Nordland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Port Ludlow
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Beaver Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Beaver Valley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Valley
    • Chimacum
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Irondale ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Irondale is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
    • Port Hadlock - Irondale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Port Hadlock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Port Townsend
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Adelma Beach
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Adelma Beach is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelma Beach
    • Gardiner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Leland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Leland is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight Beach, with the one closest to Sunlight Beach listed first.
    • Northwest Snohomish
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Northwest Snohomish is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest Snohomish
    • Richmond Highlands
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Richmond Highlands is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Highlands
    • Shoreline
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Spring Beach
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Spring Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Beach
    • North City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • North City is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North City
    • Silver Firs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Silver Firs is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Firs
    • Evergreen
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Evergreen is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
    • Lake Forest Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Bothell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Kenmore
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Sheridan Beach
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sheridan Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheridan Beach
    • Crown Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Crown Hill is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crown Hill
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight Beach, with the one closest to Sunlight Beach listed first.
    • Hansville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Port Gamble
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Kingston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Lofall
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lofall is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lofall
    • Indianola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Suquamish
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Port Madison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Port Madison is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Madison
    • Poulsbo
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Keyport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Pearson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Pearson is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
    • Rolling Bay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Rolling Bay is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rolling Bay
    • Manitou Beach
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Manitou Beach is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manitou Beach
  • Skagit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight Beach, with the one closest to Sunlight Beach listed first.
    • Conway
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Fish Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Fish Town is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Town
    • Lake McMurray
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake McMurray is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake McMurray
    • La Conner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Shelter Bay
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Shelter Bay is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelter Bay
    • Skagit City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Skagit City is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skagit City
    • Swinomish Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Swinomish Village is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swinomish Village
    • Snee Oosh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Snee Oosh is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snee Oosh
    • Montborne
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Montborne is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montborne
    • Big Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Big Lake is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Lake
    • Mount Vernon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Snohomish County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sunlight Beach, with the one closest to Sunlight Beach listed first.
    • Mukilteo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Tulalip Bay
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Tulalip Bay is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulalip Bay
    • Nelsons Corner
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Nelsons Corner is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsons Corner
    • McKees Beach
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • McKees Beach is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKees Beach
    • Spee-Bi-Dah
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Spee-Bi-Dah is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spee-Bi-Dah
    • Tulalip
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Tulalip is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulalip
    • Harbour Pointe
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Harbour Pointe is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbour Pointe
    • Priest Point
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Priest Point is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Priest Point
    • Weallup Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Weallup Lake is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weallup Lake
    • Everett
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Everett is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 112,482 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Everett <1>
    • Cathan
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cathan is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cathan
    • Paine Field - Lake Stickney
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Sunlight Beach ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sunlight Beach.

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 Sunlight Beach - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hansville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Eglon Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Buena Vista Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Mission Beach Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Sound View Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Kingston Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Cypress Lawn Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Swedbergs Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Breidablik Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breidablik Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Breidablik Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<3> to the north of Poulsbo.
    • The Breidablik Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Breidablik Chapel Cemetery
    • Breidablik Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2188982 <2>
  • Floral Hills Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floral Hills Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Floral Hills Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the east of Lynnwood.
    • The Floral Hills Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Greenland Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #210822 <2>
  • Marysville Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (50 more) ...
    • Holyrood Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodlawn Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Mt. Carmel Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 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.<4>

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

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

  • Langley
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Mukilteo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Port Ludlow
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Port Gamble
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Tulalip
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Tulalip is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tulalip
  • Everett
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Everett is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everett
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 112,482 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Everett <1>
  • Kingston
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Edmonds
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Lowell
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Lowell is located in Snohomish County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowell
  • Irondale ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Irondale is located in Jefferson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
  • Chimacum
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Marysville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Port Townsend
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Silvana
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Norman
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Norman is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norman

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

Newspapers Published in Sunlight Beach ...

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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sunlight Beach.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sunlight Beach, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sunlight Beach.

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 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 Sunlight Beach:

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 drawn from Point A (ie- Sunlight Beach) 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 Sunlight Beach, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.