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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 Swantown (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 Swantown. 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 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.

Swantown 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 Swantown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Swantown:

  • Island County     (The home county of Swantown)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swantown, with the one closest to Swantown listed first.
    • Oak Harbor
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • San de Fuca
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • San de Fuca is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
    • Coupeville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Camano
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Juniper Beach
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Juniper Beach is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juniper Beach
    • Greenbank
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Camp Diana
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Camp Diana is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Diana
    • Freeland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bay View
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Bay View is located in Island County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Langley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Clinton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Clallam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swantown, with the one closest to Swantown listed first.
    • Port Williams
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Port Williams is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Williams
    • Old Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Old Town is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Blyn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Blyn is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blyn
    • Sequim
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Bell Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Bell Hill is located in Clallam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell Hill
    • Carlsborg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • River Road
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 Swantown, with the one closest to Swantown listed first.
    • Port Townsend
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Marrowstone
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Nordland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Adelma Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Adelma Beach is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adelma Beach
    • Irondale ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Irondale is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irondale
    • Port Hadlock - Irondale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Port Hadlock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Gardiner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Chimacum
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Beaver Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Beaver Valley is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Valley
    • Port Ludlow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Leland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Leland is located in Jefferson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
  • Kitsap County
  • San Juan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swantown, with the one closest to Swantown listed first.
    • Decatur Island
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Lopez Island
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lopez Island is located in San Juan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez Island
    • Lopez
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lopez is located in San Juan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez
    • Argyle
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Argyle is located in San Juan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
    • False Bay
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Friday Harbor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Shaw Island
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Shaw Island is located in San Juan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw Island
    • Olga
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Orcas
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Deer Harbor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Eastsound
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Roche Harbor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Skagit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swantown, with the one closest to Swantown listed first.
    • Shelter Bay
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Shelter Bay is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shelter Bay
    • Snee Oosh
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Snee Oosh is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snee Oosh
    • Fish Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Fish Town is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Town
    • La Conner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Similk Beach
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Similk Beach is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Similk Beach
    • Swinomish Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Swinomish Village is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swinomish Village
    • Alexander Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Alexander Beach is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexander Beach
    • Anacortes
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Skagit City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Skagit City is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skagit City
    • Bay View
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bay View is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Conway
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Indian Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
  • Snohomish County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swantown, with the one closest to Swantown listed first.
    • Utsalady
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Utsalady is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utsalady
    • Stanwood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Lake Ketchum
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Lake Ketchum is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Ketchum
    • North Stanwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • North Stanwood is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Stanwood
    • Florence
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Florence is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
    • Warm Beach
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Warm Beach is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warm Beach
    • McKees Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • McKees Beach is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKees Beach
    • Silvana
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Cathan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Cathan is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cathan
    • Lake Goodwin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Goodwin is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Goodwin
    • Spee-Bi-Dah
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Spee-Bi-Dah is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spee-Bi-Dah
    • Weallup Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Weallup Lake is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weallup Lake
  • Whatcom County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swantown, with the one closest to Swantown listed first.
    • Chuckanut Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Chuckanut Village is located in Whatcom County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chuckanut Village
    • Lummi Island
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Swantown ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Swantown.

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

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

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

  • Maple Leaf Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Sunnyside Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Camano Lutheran Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Camano Island Pioneer Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Fern Hill Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Laurel Grove Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Grandview Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Lopez Union Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Skagit City Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Sound View Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Our Saviours Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (24 more) ...
    • Scandinavian Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scandinavian Cemetery
      • The Scandinavian Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Old Milltown Cemetery
      • Old Milltown Lutheran Cemetery
      • Scandinavian Lutheran Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2168007 <2>
    • Bay View Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Eden Cemetery
      (17 miles [27.4 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 Swantown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Swantown.

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

  • Oak Harbor
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • San de Fuca
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • San de Fuca is located in Island County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for San de Fuca
  • Coupeville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Gibraltar
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Gibraltar is located in Skagit County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibraltar
  • La Conner
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Port Townsend
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Richardson
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Richardson is located in San Juan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richardson
  • Decatur Island
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Whitney
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Whitney is located in Skagit County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
  • Fredonia
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Fredonia is located in Skagit County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
  • Anacortes
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Stanwood
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Skagit City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Skagit City is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skagit City
    • Bay View
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bay View is located in Skagit County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay View
    • Lopez Island
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lopez Island is located in San Juan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lopez Island

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

Newspapers Published in Swantown ...

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 100 newspapers that have been published in the area around Swantown.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Swantown, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Swantown.

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 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 Swantown:

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 Swantown, 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- Swantown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.