King County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  King County   Guide to  genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1861, when the county was formed.

Parent County(s)
King County, Washington was created 22 December 1852.

County Seat: Seattle. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Chelan | Kitsap | Kittitas | Pierce | Snohomish | Yakima

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Dates of Major County Records
Note: The dates you see below have not yet been adapted to.

Topics
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Biography

 * A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of the city of Seattle and county of King, Washington : including (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)


 * History of Seattle, Washington : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

Cemeteries

 * Kolb, Alexis Ann Alexander, Black Diamond Cemetery, Black Diamond, Washington, (Auburn, Washington: A.A.A. Kolb, 1980). Book online at Includes map of cemetery plots.
 * Fort Lawn Cemetery -- Burial Index
 * Lake View Cemetery main site
 * Lake View Cemetery Burial Search

BillionGraves:


 * Carnation Cemetery, Carnation
 * Forest Lawn Cemetery, Seattle
 * Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, Seattle
 * Greenwood Cemetery, Renton
 * Hills of Eternity Cemetery, Seattle
 * Holy Cross Cemetery, Enunclaw
 * Mount Olivet Cemetery, Renton
 * Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle
 * Suise Creek Cemetery, Kent
 * Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent
 * White Lake Cemetery, Auburn

Find A Grave: search and contribute to 168 King County cemeteries


 * Alpha list of cemeteries in the county with links to online transcripts.

Census

 * See Washington Census for online indexes and images of US federal censuses. of: 1856, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.
 * See statewide printed indexes, including 1856.
 * Check county indexes when online indexes fail. Created by people who knew the families of the area, they are often more accurate and they may have added insights. See periodicals and local libraries or other record holders.


 * 1890 Veterans
 * 1900
 * 1910
 * 1920
 * 1930
 * 1940

State


 * 1889
 * 1907

Church Records

 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Queen Anne (Seattle)
 * Renton
 * Seattle S.
 * Seattle W.
 * University (Seattle)

Lutheran
Denny Park Lutheran Church


 * Records of Denny Park Lutheran Church, Seattle, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Immanuel Lutheran Church


 * Records of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seattle, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Washington Court Records for the various courts through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate

Directories

 * Seattle, Washington City Directories, 1888-90 (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com  ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

Emigration and Immigration

 * Seattle, Washington, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957 (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)


 * Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, Passenger and Crew Lists of Airplane Departures, 1947-1957 (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

Japanese
World War II Files, 1942-1946

Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives

Genealogy

 * A Volume of memoirs and genealogy of representative citizens of the city of Seattle and county of King, Washington : including (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

Guardianship
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Washington Court Records.

History

 * History and Progress of King County, Washington... 1916, by Henry C. Pigott. Digitalized book online from archive.org.


 * History of Seattle, Washington: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)


 * Sound and western Washington'' (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

[1] A history of central Washington: including the famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys, with an index and ei] (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)

Oral History


 * Olson, Diane and Cory, comp. and ed., Black Diamond: Mining the Memories, An oral history of life in a company town, (Seaside, Oregon: Frontier Publishing, 1988). The 1989 Washington Centennial project of the Black Diamond Historical Society, this book is a compilation of historical photographs and selections from the transcripts of over fifty oral history interviews.


 * University of Washington, Urban Design and Planning, Mining the Memories II, Black Diamond Oral History Project, (University of Washington: 2011). Summary of 2010 oral history project pdf for the Black Diamond Historical Society. A follow-up to the 1988 centennial project, students interviewed another twenty-two residents capturing the history of Black Diamond as the area transitioned from a coal mining company town, 1950s to present.

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wilma, David. King County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7905.


 * The area's indigenous peoples included the Duwamish, the Snoqualmies,and the Muckleshoots.
 * Early explorers were Colonel Isaac Ebey and later, the gold-seeker John Holgate.
 * The great spur to settlement was the Donation Land Claims Act of 1850, which granted 320 acres to each adult U.S. citizen who arrived in Oregon Territory before December 1850, and resided on their claim for four years.
 * 1851 September 14 - The first settlers were farmers led by Luther Collins.
 * 1852 December 22 - The Oregon Territorial Legislature created King County.
 * 1889 June 6 - The Great Seattle Fire wiped the downtown slate clean.
 * 1890s - Immigrants into King County included Russians, Greeks, and Serbs.

Land and Property

 * 1854-1923 Part of:"County Land Records, 1850-1954" FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization Records, 1850-1982 FamilySearch Historical Collections (free)

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)

Washington State Digital Archives has digitized various types of naturalization-related records, including declarations of intentions, delayed birth files, naturalization affidavits, notifications of application for admission to US citizenship, orders fixing naturalization terms, petitions and records, petitions, receipts for certificates of citizenship, record of final decrees of citizenship and record of petitions dockets. Depending on the county, records range from 1854-1988.

Newspapers

 * Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)

Probate Records
A wiki article describing an online collection is found at: Washington, King County Probate Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Birth
Washington State Digital Archives has a database of King County Birth Records. This database contains the names of people who were born in King County from 1891-1907.

Marriage
To obtain copies of marriage records from King County, go to the following website: www.kingcounty.gov/courts/marriage/Licensecopies.aspx. The website offers a link to an online search for marriage records 1855-1989, which includes images.

Divorce
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.

Death

 * Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960 A free internet index to the 1907-1960 death certificates can be found at FamilySearch Record Search, no images are available. A transcribed death certificate may contain such information as name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, gender, birth date and birth place, mother’s maiden name and name of spouse, place of residence, occupation and certificate numbers.

Websites

 * King County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * King County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for . ===== Courthouse =====

King County Courthouse 516 3rd Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206.296.1020 Records and Elections Division, Records Section has birth, marriage, death and land records from 1853. Clerk of the Superior Court has divorce, probate and county records.

FamilySearch Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Auburn Washington Family History Center
 * Bellevue Washington Family History Center
 * Bellevue Washington South Family History Center
 * Federal Way Washington Family History Center
 * Kirkland Washington Family History Center
 * Maple Valley Washington Family History Center
 * North Bend Washington Family History Center
 * Redmond Washington Family History Center

Seattle
Seattle (Other cities/towns in the county are in alpha order after Seattle)
 * Seattle Public Library - Capitol Hill, 425 Harvard Ave E, Seattle 98102  Phone: (206) 684-4715


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 * Seattle Public Library - Fremont, 731 N 35th St, Seattle 98103  Phone: (206) 684-4084


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 * Seattle Public Library - Greenwood, 8016 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle 98103  Phone: (206) 684-4086


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 * Seattle Public Library - Wallingford, 1501 N 45th St, Seattle 98103  Phone: (206) 684-4088


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 * Seattle Public Library - Central Library, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle 98104  Phone: (206) 386-4636


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 * Seattle Public Library - International District - Chinatown Branch, 713 Eighth Ave. S., Seattle 98104  Phone: (206) 386-1300


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 * Seattle Public Library - University, 5009 Roosevelt Way Ne, Seattle 98105  Phone: (206) 684-4063


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 * Greenbridge Library, 9720 8th Ave S.W., Seattle 98106  Phone: (206) 762-1682


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 * Seattle Public Library - Delridge, 5423 Delridge Way Sw, Seattle 98106  Phone: (206) 733-9125


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 * Seattle Public Library - Ballard, 5711 24th Ave Nw, Seattle 98107  Phone: (206) 684-4089


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 * Seattle Public Library - South Park, 8604 Eighth Ave. S. At South Cloverdale Street, Seattle 98108  Phone: (206) 615-1688


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 * Seattle Public Library - Montlake, 2300 24th Ave E, Seattle 98112  Phone: (206) 684-4720


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 * Seattle Public Library - Green Lake, 7364 E Green Lake Dr N, Seattle 98115  Phone: (206) 684-7547


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 * Seattle Public Library - Northeast, 6801 35th Ave Ne, Seattle 98115  Phone: (206) 684-7539


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 * Seattle Public Library - West Seattle, 2306 42nd Ave Sw, Seattle 98116  Phone: (206) 684-7444


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 * Seattle Public Library - Columbia, 4721 Rainier Ave S, Seattle 98118  Phone: (206) 386-1908


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 * Seattle Public Library - Newholly, 7058 32nd Ave S, Seattle 98118  Phone: (206) 386-1905


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 * Seattle Public Library - Rainier Beach, 9125 Rainier Ave S, Seattle 98118  Phone: (206) 386-1906


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 * Seattle Public Library - Queen Anne, 400 W Garfield St, Seattle 98119  Phone: (206) 386-4227


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 * Seattle Public Library - Douglass-Truth, 2300 E Yesler Way, Seattle 98122  Phone: (206) 684-4704


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 * Seattle Public Library - Madrona Sally Goldmark, 1134 33rd Ave, Seattle 98122  Phone: (206) 684-4705


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 * Seattle Public Library - Lake City, 12501 28th Ave Ne, Seattle 98125  Phone: (206) 684-7518


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 * Seattle Public Library - Northgate, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E., Seattle 98125  Phone: (206) 386-1980


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 * Seattle Public Library - High Point, 6338 32nd Ave Sw, Seattle 98126  Phone: (206) 684-7454


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 * Seattle Public Library - Southwest, 9010 35th Ave Sw, Seattle 98126  Phone: (206) 684-7455


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 * Seattle Public Library - Broadview, 12755 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle 98133  Phone: (206) 684-7519


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 * Seattle Public Library - Beacon Hill, 2519 15th Ave S, Seattle 98144  Phone: (206) 684-4711


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 * White Center Library, 11220 16th Avenue Sw, Seattle 98146  Phone: (206) 243-0233


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 * Boulevard Park Library, 12015 Roseberg Avenue S, Seattle 98168  Phone: (206) 242-8662


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 * Skyway Library, 7614 S 126th Street, Seattle 98178  Phone: (206) 772-5541


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 * Seattle Public Library - Magnolia, 2801 34th Ave W, Seattle 98199  Phone: (206) 386-4225


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Other areas of the county:
Alpha by city/town in King County


 * Auburn Public Library, 1102 Auburn Way South, Auburn 98002 Phone: (253) 931-3018


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 * Muckleshoot Library, 38811 172nd Avenue Se, Auburn 98092 Phone: (253) 931-6779


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 * Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Avenue Ne, Bellevue 98004 Phone: (425) 450-1765


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 * Newport Way Library, 14250 Se Newport Way, Bellevue 98006 Phone: (425) 747-2390


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 * Lake Hills Library, 15228 Lake Hills Boulevard, Bellevue 98007 Phone: (425) 747-3350


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 * Library Connection At Crossroads, 15600 Ne 8th Street, Suite K-11, Bellevue 98008 Phone: (425) 644-6203


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 * Black Diamond Library, 24301 Roberts Drive, Black Diamond 98010 Phone: (360) 886-1105


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 * Bothell Library, 18215 98th Avenue Ne, Bothell 98011 Phone: (425) 486-7811


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 * Burien Library, 14700 6th Avenue Sw, Burien 98166 Phone: (206) 243-3490


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 * Carnation Library, 4804 Tolt Avenue, Carnation 98014 Phone: (425) 333-4398


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 * Covington Library, 27100 164th Avenue Se, Covington 98042 Phone: (253) 630-8761


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 * Des Moines Library, 21620 11th Avenue S, Des Moines 98198 Phone: (206) 824-6066


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 * Woodmont Library, 26809 Pacific Hwy S, Des Moines 98198 Phone: (253) 839-0121


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 * Duvall Library, 15619 Ne Main Street, Duvall 98019 Phone: (425) 788-1173


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 * Enumclaw Public Library, 1700 First Street, Enumclaw 98022 Phone: (360) 825-2938


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 * Fall City Library, 33415 Se 42nd Place, Fall City 98024 Phone: (425) 222-5951


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 * Federal Way 320th Library, 848 S 320th Street, Federal Way 98003 Phone: (253) 839-0257


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 * Federal Way Library, 34200 1st Way South, Federal Way 98003 Phone: (253) 838-3668


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 * Issaquah Library, 10 W Sunset Way, Issaquah 98027 Phone: (425) 392-5430


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 * King County Library System, 960 Newport Way Nw, Issaquah 98027 Phone: (425) 369-3200


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 * Kenmore Library, 18138 73rd Ave Ne, Kenmore 98028 Phone: (425) 486-8747


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 * Kent Library, 212 2nd Ave N, Kent 98032 Phone: (253) 859-3330


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 * Kirkland Library, 308 Kirkland Avenue, Kirkland 98033 Phone: (425) 822-2459


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 * Kingsgate Library, 12315 Ne 143rd Street, Kirkland 98034 Phone: (425) 821-7686


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 * Lake Forest Park Library, 17171 Bothell Way Ne, Lake Forest Park 98155 Phone: (206) 362-8860


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 * Maple Valley Library, 21844 Se 248th Street, Maple Valley 98038 Phone: (425) 432-4620::Online Resources:


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 * Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Avenue Se, Mercer Island 98040 Phone: (206) 236-3537


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 * North Bend Library, 115 E 4th Street, North Bend 98045 Phone: (425) 888-0554


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 * Algona-Pacific Library, 255 Ellingson Road, Pacific 98047 Phone: (253) 833-3554


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 * Redmond Library, 15990 Ne 85th Street, Redmond 98052 Phone: (425) 885-1861


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 * Library Express At Redmond Ridge, 10735 Cedar Park Crescent Ne, Redmond 98053 Phone: (425) 885-1861


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 * Highlands Public Library, 2902 Ne 12th St, Renton 98056 Phone: (425) 430-6790


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 * Renton Highlands Library, 2902 Ne 12th Street, Renton 98056 Phone: (425) 277-1831


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 * Renton Library, 100 Mill Avenue South, Renton 98057 Phone: (425) 430-6610


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 * Fairwood Library, 17009 140th Avenue Se, Renton 98058 Phone: (425) 226-0522


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 * Sammamish Library, 825 228th Avenue Ne, Sammamish 98074 Phone: (425) 836-8793


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 * Valley View Library, 17850 Military Road S, Seatac 98188 Phone: (206) 242-6044


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 * Shoreline Library, 345 Ne 175th St, Shoreline 98155 Phone: (206) 362-7550


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 * Richmond Beach Library, 19601 21st Avenue Nw, Shoreline 98177 Phone: (206) 546-3522


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 * Skykomish Library, 100 Fifth Street, Skykomish 98288 Phone: (360) 677-2660


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 * Snoqualmie Library, 38580 Se River Street, Snoqualmie 98065 Phone: (425) 888-1223


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 * Foster Library, 4060 S 144th Street, Tukwila 98168 Phone: (206) 242-1640


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 * Tukwila Library, 14475 59th Avenue S, Tukwila 98168 Phone: (206) 244-5140


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 * Library Connection At Southcenter, 1386 Southcenter Mall, Tukwila 98188 Phone: (206) 242-6044


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 * Vashon Library, 17210 Vashon Highway Sw, Vashon Island 98070 Phone: (206) 463-2069


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 * Woodinville Library, 17105 Avondale Road Ne, Woodinville 98072 Phone: (425) 788-0733


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 * Fiske Genealogical Foundation and Library - Located at 1644 43rd Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98112. Hours: Monday &amp; Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Wednesday 12:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Thursday 3:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Friday by appt; 2nd Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Phone: 206-328-2716.

Museums

 * Black Diamond Historical Depot Museum 32627 Railroad Ave Black Diamond WA 98010 360–886–2142 Franklin Tours: 253–852–6763 Transit: Baker St and 3rd Ave Send e-mail to: museum@blackdiamondmuseum.org Hours: Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Summer) 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Winter) 12 to 3 p.m.

Societies

 * Black Diamond Historical Society – The mission of the Black Diamond Historical Society shall be the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of the history of Black Diamond and environs, as it relates to King County and the State of Washington. Like us on facebook Black Diamond History


 * Eastside Genealogical Society – Library holdings are located at the Bellevue Regional Library, a part of the King County Library System. Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of the month at the Bellevue Regional Library at 1111 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004. Check the website for more information on the various interest groups that meet as a part of EGS.


 * South King County Genealogical Society – Library holdings are located at the Auburn branch of the King County Library System. Meetings are held from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the First Baptist Church of Kent, 11420 S.E. 248th St., Kent, WA 98030.


 * Seattle Genealogical Society – Library located at 6200 Sand Point Way N.E., #101, Seattle, WA 98115. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday until 8:00 p.m. Check the website for the society meeting schedule and a listing of the various interest groups that meet as a part of SGS.

Towns and Communities
See a list of towns and communities in King County per Wikipedia.