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 Bowers Junction (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 Bowers Junction. 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 Bowers Junction ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Bowers Junction: Bowers Jct. (or less commonly used: Bowers Jctn.)
- While the name of this community is Bowers Junction, be aware that it's the common practice of mapmakers to remove the apostrophe from possessive names<1>. So Bowers Junction may originally have been Bower's Junction.
Sometimes the trailing 's' might be dropped altogether, in which case Bowers Junction might be written as Bower Junction.
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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
Bowers Junction is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook & Yamhill.
Below are the counties that are near Bowers Junction. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bowers Junction:
- Washington County (The home county of Bowers Junction)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- West Union
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- West Union is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Rockcreek
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Rockcreek is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockcreek
- Bethany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bethany is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Oak Hills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Hills is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills
- North Plains
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hillsboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Newton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Newton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Reedville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Reedville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Cedar Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marlene Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marlene Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
- Mountaindale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mountaindale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Aloha
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tobias
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tobias is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobias
- Clackamas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- Lake Oswego
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rivergrove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
- Tualatin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Christie ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Christie is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
- Marylhurst
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Stafford
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Stafford is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Wilsonville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Jennings Lodge
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
- Oatfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oatfield is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
- Clackamas
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Gladstone
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Johnson City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Johnson City is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 627 people
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- Scappoose
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Warren
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Saint Helens
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Columbia City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Vernonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Deer Island
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pittsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Keasey
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keasey is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
- Reuben
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Reuben is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
- Goble
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Goble is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- Butteville Station ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Butteville Station is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
- Butteville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Butteville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
- Champoeg ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Champoeg is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
- Donald
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Aurora
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hubbard
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Woodburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Multnomah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- Burlington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burlington is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Vanport City ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Vanport City is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
- Albina
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Albina is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
- Portland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Laurelhurst
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
- Fulton ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Maywood Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Montavilla
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
- Milwaukie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodstock
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Russellville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Hazelwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Tillamook County
- Ryan's Camp ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Ryan's Camp is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan's Camp
- Ryan's Camp has also been known as:
- Idiotville
- Yamhill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- Cove Orchard
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
- Newberg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Dundee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Yamhill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Carlton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Saint Joseph
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- McMinnville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clark County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- Vancouver
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Felida
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
- Hazel Dell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shore is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
- Minnehaha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
- Salmon Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Salmon Creek is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
- Sara
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sara is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
- Walnut Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Walnut Grove is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Barberton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Barberton is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
- Mount Vista
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vista is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
- Cascade Park West
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
- Five Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Five Corners is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
- Homan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Homan is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homan
- Cowlitz County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- Kalama
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Ariel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bowers Junction, see our County-by-County Page for Bowers Junction.
Cemeteries Near Bowers Junction ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bowers Junction.
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 Bowers Junction - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bowers Junction covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- West Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Helvetia Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bethany Methodist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- German Presbyterian Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Phillips Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Old Scotch Church Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Scotch Church Cemetery
- The Old Scotch Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tualatin Plains Cemetery
- Shadybrook Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jackson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Moar Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fir Lawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Valley Memorial Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (200 more) ...
- Stewart Family Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Pius Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Skyline Memorial Gardens
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
While we didn't find Bowers Junction in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bowers Junction.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bowers Junction, with the one closest to Bowers Junction listed first.
- West Union
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- West Union is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Bethany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bethany is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Holbrook
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Holbrook is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holbrook
- Glencoe
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Glencoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
- Hillsboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Linnton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Linnton is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linnton
- Newton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Newton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Reedville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Reedville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Cedar Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Mountaindale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Saint Johns
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Saint Johns is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Centerville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- University Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- University Park is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
- Cornelius
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Beaverton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bowers Junction. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bowers Junction.
Newspapers Published in Bowers Junction ...
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 248 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bowers Junction.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bowers Junction, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bowers Junction.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Bowers Junction:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clackamas County
- Columbia County
- Marion County
- Multnomah County
- Tillamook County
- Yamhill County
- Clark County
- Cowlitz County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Oregon
Footnotes ...
| <1> | It's generally believed that possessive apostrophes are removed to prevent confusion on maps where the apostrophe may be confused with a cartographic symbol. While this is generally true, it's not uncommon to find possessive apostrophes in administrative names (such as towns or counties). |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <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 Bowers Junction, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Bowers Junction) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |