How do cemetery boundaries and sections help on Find a Grave?
Preliminary boundaries and steps for this process
How do I add a GPS pin for the cemetery?
How do I add a cemetery boundary?
How do I adjust an existing cemetery boundary?
What else should I be on the lookout for regarding boundaries?
How do I add sections within the cemetery boundary?
What else should I be on the lookout for regarding sections?
Adding cemetery boundaries and sections is our first step in cemetery mapping. We'd love your help and expertise in defining the boundary and sections for cemeteries. You'll need to be familiar with or have knowledge of the cemetery boundary and sections to submit this information. If this takes a little more research you could check with the cemetery office, visit the cemetery and their official website, look for information from historical societies or check public property records. The cemetery boundary should include land that is owned by the cemetery. In addition to the cemetery this can include administrative buildings, crematoriums, chapels, etc.
How do cemetery boundaries and sections help on Find a Grave?
With cemetery boundary information, we can help ensure that memorials located within the cemetery have correct GPS locations. We can also help locate nearby cemeteries and provide definition needed between cemeteries that are located right next to each other but are separate cemeteries.
As sections are added, we'll be better able to define what section a memorial is in according to its GPS. When you have a plot location, you’ll be able to easily tell where the section is located within the cemetery. This will also help define sections of older cemeteries that may only exist historically and are not well known.
Preliminary boundaries and steps for this process
If the cemetery has a GPS pin and our mapping program has already identified that location as a cemetery, we may have a preliminary cemetery boundary. In these cases, we ask that you review the boundary and make any needed adjustments. Then submit that to us for review. It is possible that the map may pick up more than one cemetery in the area. As you're looking at the cemetery boundary for the cemetery, use the map options such as zoom in/out and viewing via satellite or map. This will help you better refine the perimeter for the cemetery and only suggest the boundary for this specific cemetery. This is a three step process, where any community member can help.
- First step - GPS pin for the cemetery
- Second step - Reviewing, adjusting or adding a cemetery boundary
- Third step - Adding sections within the cemetery boundary
Find a Grave reviews all cemetery suggestions and notifies you according to your notification settings.
How do I add a GPS pin for the cemetery?
Go to the specific cemetery page and select Suggest Edits. On this page select the button "Set GPS and Address using Map." Zoom in/out to get a good view of the cemetery. You can also search by the address. Place the GPS pin in the center of the cemetery. Select Save. Scroll down to the bottom of the cemetery Suggest Edits page and select Save Suggestions. Your suggestion will be processed generally within a few days. You'll receive notification according to your notification settings.
How do I add a cemetery boundary?
Ensure that the cemetery has the correct GPS. Go to the specific cemetery page and select Map (next to Photos).
If our map picks up the cemetery boundary, it will display in orange. Please review it. You can select "Save Boundary" or "Adjust boundary." After selecting 'Adjust Boundary' you'll notice the map change to pin points and lines. Click any pinpoint and drag it along with the line with your mouse. You can create any shape. For example, as you click and drag the points, more pinpoints are created closer together and you can click and drag the lines into a circular shape.
If our map doesn't pick up the cemetery boundary, you can select the Boundaries button, and choose to 'Detect Boundary' or 'Draw Boundary.' To draw the boundary, you'll start by selecting a corner or edge pinpoint of the cemetery on the map, then draw a line to the next pinpoint and so on until you again reach your first pinpoint, which will complete the perimeter or cemetery boundary.
Once the boundary is correct, select Save Boundary.
The Delete button will delete the cemetery boundary you were editing and the Cancel button will cancel the entire cemetery boundary process.
If you receive a notification that boundary editing is unavailable, it is likely due to existing cemetery boundary suggestions. It takes us a few days to review the cemetery boundaries, so please check back.
How do I adjust an existing cemetery boundary?
Once a cemetery boundary has been approved, it will display in light blue on the map. If it needs adjustment, select the Boundaries button and 'Edit Boundaries.' The cemetery boundary will display in orange with pinpoints. Drag the pinpoints and lines to adjust the cemetery boundary. Save your suggestion and add a note giving us more information.
What else should I be on the lookout for regarding boundaries?
Every cemetery is different. The cemetery boundary should be the land that is owned by the cemetery. In addition to the cemetery this can include administrative buildings, crematoriums, chapels, cemetery roads, etc. If you have a question, please reach out through our Contact us form.
If the cemetery has sections that are across the street from each other and separated by a main road (which is not part of the cemetery), then don't include the road in the boundary. Include cemetery roads if they are located on land that is owned by the cemetery.
GPS isn't always perfect and can be a little off depending on satellite positions and any interference (buildings, large trees, etc.). From time to time there may be memorials with incorrect GPS outside of the cemetery boundaries. You can still add the cemetery boundary and then adjust the GPS from the memorial, through Suggest Edits.
Keep in mind, this is our first step in cemetery mapping. Right now, our focus is on the cemetery boundary and the largest level sections.
How do I add sections within the cemetery boundary?
First, gather information about the sections to define them. This includes official section names, any section theme names, and the exact boundaries. Check with the cemetery office or cemetery's website for a section map. Community members may have submitted a section map to the cemetery photos page. Historical societies and county records are also good places to check.
Once you have the section information, go to the specific cemetery and select Map (next to Photos). If the cemetery has an approved cemetery boundary, you can add the sections. Select the Boundaries button and then 'Add Section' from the dropdown.
Enter one official section at a time. Draw the boundary for the section. Start with one point and draw a line to the next until you return to the starting point and complete the perimeter. You can create any shape. For example, as you click and drag the points, more pinpoints are created closer together and you can click and drag the lines into a circular shape. Once complete the section lines will be purple.
Next add the name for the section you just finished. Use the official name or number that the cemetery uses for that section. Often, a section has an additional thematic name (e.g., Veterans, Garden of Memories, Old Ground); add that additional name to match the official record.
Add a note with any explanation and the submit the section by selecting Save. Start the process again to add the next section.
What else should I be on the lookout for regarding sections?
Sections should for the most part be where graves are located. It is possible that a cemetery could have a planned future section that doesn't have burials yet. If it is already named as a section, feel free to add it.
In most modern cemeteries, sections generally follow pathways, cemetery roads, or distinct landscaping. But every cemetery is different, which is why you'll need to do some research to gather information before submitting sections. If there aren't paths or roadways, sections will often share a border and be next to each other.
For larger cemeteries, there are features that won't be included in a section on the map, as graves aren’t located there. For example, a section would border around a pond and not include the pond. The same would apply to buildings that do not include remains or cremains officially buried there, such as administrative buildings.