Black Rock Cemetery
Hanford Road (Washington 24)
Moxee City, Yakima County, Washington 98936
Also Known as Meeker Cemetery
Directions
The cemetery is on the eastern edge of Section 24, Township 12 North, Range 22 East. It is three-quarters of a mile south of Highway 24 and six miles west of the junction where Highway 24 meets Highway 241. The site was likely once part of the Meeboer Ranch and can be accessed via a dirt road along the section line.
History
Although Metzker’s map of Yakima County lists this inactive cemetery as Black Rock Cemetery, it is more commonly known as Meeker Cemetery. This name echoes the historical significance of the Meeboer family, who later changed their name to Meeker. The exact reason for the name change is unknown, but it is most likely because Meeker is more straightforward to pronounce. The Meeker family’s influence is deeply woven into the fabric of this cemetery’s history, connecting us to the past.
The cemetery served the Black Rock area, a farming development and village that was heavily promoted at the turn of the century but ultimately failed due to a lack of water. Today, the region supports some dryland wheat farming and cattle operations.
In 1970, Jack M. Lines, a dedicated historian, published information about the cemetery in the Yakima Valley Genealogy Society bulletin. His work shed light on the cemetery’s history. Mrs. Elsine Brader, a passionate researcher, provided additional details about the burials in the cemetery, enriching our understanding of its past. We are deeply appreciative of their efforts.
Additional information:
Visit the Black Rock Cemetery Website