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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 Black Rock (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 Black Rock. 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.

Name Variations for Black Rock ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Blackrock.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Black Rock. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Black Rock.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 doctors 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.

Black Rock is located in Polk County.

To see how the shape of Oregon's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Polk County: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Tillamook & Yamhill.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Black Rock)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
    • Falls City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Bridgeport
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Bridgeport is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Ellendale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Ellendale is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
    • Valsetz ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Valsetz is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valsetz
    • Dallas
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Lewisville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lewisville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
    • Buell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Buell is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
    • Dolph Corner
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Dolph Corner is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph Corner
    • Airlie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Airlie is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
    • Monmouth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Rickreall
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Smithfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Smithfield is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
    • Grand Ronde
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
    • Kings Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Summit
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Summit is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Blodgett
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Wellsdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Wellsdale is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsdale
    • Wren
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Wren is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
    • Adair Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Adair Village is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adair Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 872 people
    • Lewisburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Lewisburg is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Flynn
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Flynn is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn
    • Philomath
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Corvallis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • North Albany
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • North Albany is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Albany
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
    • Logsden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Rose Lodge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Eddyville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Siletz
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Otis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Pioneer City ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Pioneer City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer City
    • Kernville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Kernville is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernville
    • Elk City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Elk City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
    • Cutler City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Cutler City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutler City
    • Lincoln City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Neotsu
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Gleneden Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Lincoln Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
    • Millersburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Millersburg is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,757 people
    • Albany
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Draperville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Draperville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draperville
    • Oakville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Oakville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
    • Tangent
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
    • Salem
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Salem is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175,891 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Salem <1>
    • Keizer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Santiam City ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Santiam City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiam City
    • Badger Corner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Badger Corner is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Badger Corner
    • Four Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Four Corners is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
    • Chemawa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Chemawa is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
    • Hayesville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Hayesville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
    • Turner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Jefferson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Labish Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Labish Village is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Labish Village
    • Marion
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Brooks
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Macleay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Macleay is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macleay
  • Tillamook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
    • Dolph ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Dolph is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph
    • Bellwood ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Bellwood is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
    • Neskowin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Blaine
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Blaine is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
    • Oretown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Oretown is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oretown
    • Cloverdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Hebo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Black Rock, with the one closest to Black Rock listed first.
    • Willamina
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Sheridan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Bellevue
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellevue is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
    • Amity
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Amity is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,722 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Amity <1>
    • Whiteson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
    • Hopewell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Eola Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
    • McMinnville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Joseph
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph

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

Cemeteries Near Black Rock ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Black Rock.

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 Black Rock - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hubbard Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Falls City Odd Fellows Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Falls City Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Hart Riggs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Schrag Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Edwards Pioneer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Pedee Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Womer Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Dallas Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Montgomery Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Claremont Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (133 more) ...
    • Brown Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Salt Creek Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Williams Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)

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.<3>

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

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

  • Falls City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Lewisville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Lewisville is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
  • Dallas
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Airlie
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Airlie is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
  • Simpson
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Simpson is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
  • Kings Valley
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Cochrane ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Cochrane is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
  • Hoskins
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Hoskins is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskins
  • Monmouth
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Rickreall
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Smithfield
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Smithfield is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
  • Grand Ronde
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Derry
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Derry is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derry
    • Willamina
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Independence
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Black Rock ...

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 77 newspapers that have been published in the area around Black Rock.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Black Rock, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Black Rock.

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 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 Black Rock:

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>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 Black Rock, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Black Rock) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.