RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Washington >> Kitsap County >> Wildwood >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Wildwood (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 Wildwood. 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.

Wildwood is located in Kitsap 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 Kitsap County: Island, Jefferson, King, Mason & Pierce.

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

  • Kitsap County     (The home county of Wildwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Bethel
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Burley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Gorst
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • East Port Orchard
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • East Port Orchard is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Port Orchard
    • Port Orchard
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Parkwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Parkwood is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkwood
    • Olalla
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Navy Yard City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Navy Yard City is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Navy Yard City
    • Retsil
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Retsil is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Retsil
    • South Park Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bremerton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Colby
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Colby is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
  • Jefferson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Brinnon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Quilcene
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
  • King County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Vashon Heights
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Vashon Heights is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vashon Heights
    • Vashon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Magnolia Beach
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Magnolia Beach is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Beach
    • Tahlequah
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Tahlequah is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tahlequah
    • Seahurst
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Seahurst is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seahurst
    • Alki
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Alki is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alki
    • Burien
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Normandy Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • White Center
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • White Center is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Center
    • Des Moines
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • North Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • North Hill is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hill
    • Buenna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Buenna is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buenna
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Belfair
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Allyn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Grapeview
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Tahuya
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Lilliwaup
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Union ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Union is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Bayshore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bayshore is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayshore
    • Hoodsport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Potlatch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Skokomish
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Skokomish is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skokomish
    • Shelton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Mohrweis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Mohrweis is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohrweis
  • Pierce County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Wauna
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Wauna is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wauna
    • Rosedale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Rosedale is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
    • Vaughn
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Vaughn is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn
    • Gig Harbor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Artondale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Artondale is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
    • Cromwell
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Cromwell is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cromwell
    • Home
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Home is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Home
    • Ruston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ruston is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruston
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
    • Lakebay
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Fox Island
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Dash Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Dash Point is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dash Point
    • Herron Island
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Snohomish County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Woodway
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodway is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,391 people
    • Esperance
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Esperance is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esperance
    • Edmonds
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Brier
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Brier is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brier
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,955 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brier <1>
    • Mountlake Terrace
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Lynnwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Alderwood Manor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Alderwood Manor is located in Snohomish County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alderwood Manor
  • Thurston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Puget
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Puget is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puget
    • Tanglewilde
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Tanglewilde is located in Thurston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewilde
    • Lacey
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • 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>

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

Cemeteries Near Wildwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wildwood.

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

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

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

  • Fraola Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • K P Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Sunset Lane Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Minter Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • 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]<2> to the west of Wauna.
    • The Minter Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Elgin Cemetery
  • Veterans Home Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Sedgwick Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Ivy Green Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Forest Lawn Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Lawn Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Forest Lawn Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Bremerton.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #76807 <3>
  • Miller - Woodlawn Memorial Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miller - Woodlawn Memorial Park
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Miller - Woodlawn Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Bremerton.
    • The Miller - Woodlawn Memorial Park has also been known as:
    • Woodlawn Memorial Park
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #77128 <3>
  • Twin Firs Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Vaughn Bay Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn Bay Cemetery
    • The Vaughn Bay Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Bayview Cemetery
    • Niemann Family Cemetery
  • Rosedale Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (90 more) ...
    • Haven of Rest Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haven of Rest Cemetery
      • Former name for Haven of Rest Cemetery:
      • Perkins Cemetery
    • Gig Harbor Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
    • Artondale 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>

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

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

  • Purdy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Purdy is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purdy
  • Olalla
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Charleston
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Charleston is located in Kitsap County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
  • Minter
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Minter is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter
  • Colby
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Colby is located in Kitsap County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colby
  • Allyn
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Vaughn
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Vaughn is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughn
  • Rosedale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Rosedale is located in Pierce County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
  • Gig Harbor
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Vashon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Crystal Springs
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Crystal Springs is located in Kitsap County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Springs
  • Tracyton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Tracyton is located in Kitsap County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracyton
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Chico
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Chico is located in Kitsap County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chico
    • Artondale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Artondale is located in Pierce County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artondale
    • Chautauqua
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Chautauqua is located in King County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chautauqua

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

Newspapers Published in Wildwood ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wildwood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wildwood, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wildwood.

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 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 Wildwood:

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>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- Wildwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Wildwood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.