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 Waterford (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 Waterford. 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 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.
Waterford is located in Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum County: Clatsop (OR), Columbia (OR), Cowlitz, Lewis & Pacific.
Below are the counties that are near Waterford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Waterford:
- Wahkiakum County (The home county of Waterford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Eagle Cliff
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Eagle Cliff is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Cliff
- East Cathlamet
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- East Cathlamet is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cathlamet
- Cathlamet
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Skamokawa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Brookfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brookfield is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Dahlia
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Dahlia is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlia
- Altoona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Altoona is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona
- Grays River
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Rosburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Deep River
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Deep River is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
- Clark County
- Woodland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Cowlitz County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Oak Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Bunker Hill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bunker Hill is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Stella
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Stella is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Coal Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Coal Creek is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
- West Longview
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- West Longview is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Longview
- Longview Heights
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Longview Heights is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview Heights
- Longview
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Kelso
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Ostrander
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ostrander is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ostrander
- Pleasant Hill
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Hill is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Ryderwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Ryderwood is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryderwood
- Castle Rock
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Carrolls
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lewis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Vader
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Winlock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pe Ell
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Toledo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Curtis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Pacific County
- The following are listed by their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Knappton ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Knappton is located in Pacific County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knappton
- Megler
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Megler is located in Pacific County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megler
- Naselle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Clatsop County (OR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Westport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Clifton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clifton is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Brownsmead
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Brownsmead is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsmead
- Jewell
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Jewell is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Svensen Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Svensen Junction is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svensen Junction
- Vinemaple
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Vinemaple is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinemaple
- Tongue Point Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Tongue Point Village is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tongue Point Village
- Astoria
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Chadwell ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Chadwell is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwell
- Jeffers Garden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Jeffers Garden is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffers Garden
- Columbia County (OR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Clatskanie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Quincy
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Quincy is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Mayger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mayger is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayger
- Fishhawk ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fishhawk is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
- Rainier
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Beaver Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver Springs is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
- Pittsburg
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Prescott
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Prescott is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
- Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
- Keasey
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Keasey is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
- Vernonia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Goble
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Goble is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
- Reuben
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Reuben is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
- Deer Island
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Washington County (OR)
- Timber
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Waterford, see our County-by-County Page for Waterford.
Cemeteries Near Waterford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waterford.
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 Waterford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Waterford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Grasseth Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Murray Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Point Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Westport Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Stewart Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Stewart Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Abernathy Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bunker Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Greenwood Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Cathlamet.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #76832 <2>
- Cathlamet Pioneer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cathlamet Pioneer Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Cathlamet Pioneer Cemetery is located in Cathlamet.
- The Cathlamet Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
- Pioneer Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2231306 <2>
- Continue List (69 more) ...
- Stella / Wiest Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mayger Downing Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Fishhawk Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Waterford had a population of 38 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Waterford, with the one closest to Waterford listed first.
- Eagle Cliff
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Eagle Cliff is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Cliff
- Clatskanie
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Point
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Westport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cathlamet
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mayger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mayger is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayger
- Stella
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Stella is located in Cowlitz County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Fishhawk ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fishhawk is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
- Mist
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mist is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mist
- Clifton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Clifton is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Skamokawa
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Apiary ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Apiary is located in Columbia County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apiary
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Rainier
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Knappa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Knappa is located in Clatsop County (OR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knappa
- Brookfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Brookfield is located in Wahkiakum County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Waterford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Waterford.
Newspapers Published in Waterford ...
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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Waterford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Waterford, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Waterford.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Waterford:
- Websites specific to Washington
- Pages specific to Wahkiakum County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clark County
- Cowlitz County
- Lewis County
- Pacific County
- Clatsop County
- Columbia County
- Washington County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Washington
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 '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- Waterford) 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 Waterford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |