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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 Waller (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 Waller. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

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

  • Pierce County     (The home county of Waller)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waller, with the one closest to Waller listed first.
    • Firwood ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Firwood is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Firwood
    • Fife
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Fife is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fife
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,458 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fife <1>
    • Gardenville ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Gardenville is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardenville
    • Summit
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Summit is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Midland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Midland is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
    • Puyallup
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • North Puyallup
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • North Puyallup is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Puyallup
    • Edgewood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Tacoma
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Parkland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Northeast Tacoma
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Northeast Tacoma is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northeast Tacoma
    • Alderton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Alderton is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderton
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waller, with the one closest to Waller listed first.
    • Milton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Algona
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Pacific
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Federal Way
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Buenna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
    • Auburn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Redondo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Redondo is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redondo
    • Star Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Star Lake is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star Lake
    • Woodmont Beach
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Woodmont Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmont Beach
    • Tahlequah
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Tahlequah is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
    • Lea Hill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lea Hill is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lea Hill
    • Magnolia Beach
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Magnolia Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Beach
  • Kitsap County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waller, with the one closest to Waller listed first.
    • Olalla
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Burley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Southworth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Southworth is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southworth
    • South Colby
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • South Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Colby
    • Bethel
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Colby
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
    • South Park Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Colchester
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Colchester is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colchester
    • Manchester
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • East Port Orchard
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
    • Parkwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Port Orchard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waller, with the one closest to Waller listed first.
    • Grapeview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Allyn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Belfair
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waller, with the one closest to Waller listed first.
    • Nisqually Indian Community
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • North Yelm
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • North Yelm is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yelm
    • Puget
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
    • Tanglewilde
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
    • Yelm
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Kellys Korner
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Kellys Korner is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kellys Korner
    • Lacey
      (24 miles [38.6 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>
    • Rainier
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • East Olympia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Olympia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Tumwater
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • McIntosh
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • McIntosh is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh

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

Cemeteries Near Waller ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waller.

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

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

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

  • Puyallup Tribal Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puyallup Tribal Cemetery
    • The Puyallup Tribal Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Cushman Cemetery
    • Indian Mission Cemetery
    • Puyallup Indian Cemetery
  • Woodbine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbine Cemetery
    • The Woodbine Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Puyallup Cemetery
  • Firwood Indian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Sumner Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner Cemetery
    • The Sumner Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Sumner Pioneer Cemetery
    • Sumner Town Cemetery
  • Georges Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Gethsemane Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Mountain View Memorial Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Parkland Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Tacoma Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • 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>
  • Pauper Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Oakwood Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • 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>
  • Continue List   (91 more) ...
    • Home of Peace Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Old Pioneer Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Pioneer Cemetery
      • The Old Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Rigney Cemetery

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 Waller in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Waller.

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

  • Midland
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Midland is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland
  • Fern Hill
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fern Hill is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern Hill
  • Puyallup
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Parkland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Meeker
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Meeker is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meeker
  • Tacoma
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Excelsior
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Excelsior is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excelsior
  • Lakeview
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakeview is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
  • Alderton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Alderton is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderton
  • Sumner
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • McMillin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • McMillin is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMillin
  • Stuck
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Stuck is located in King County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stuck
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Lake City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Lake City is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Lake Tapps
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Lake Tapps is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Tapps
    • Buenna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna

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

Newspapers Published in Waller ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Waller.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Waller, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Waller.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Waller:

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