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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 Donald (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 Donald. 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.

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Donald is located in Marion 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 Marion County: Benton, Clackamas, Deschutes, Linn, Polk, Wasco & Yamhill.

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

  • Marion County     (The home county of Donald)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
    • Butteville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Butteville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
    • Aurora
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Butteville Station ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Butteville Station is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
    • Champoeg ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Champoeg is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
    • Hubbard
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodburn
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Saint Paul
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Gervais
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • McKee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • McKee is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
    • Mount Angel
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Downs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Downs is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downs
    • Brooks
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Clackamas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
    • Barlow
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Barlow is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Canby
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Canby is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,027 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canby <1>
    • Wilsonville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Needy ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Needy is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
    • Macksburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Macksburg is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
    • Tualatin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Willamette
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Willamette is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willamette
    • Liberal
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Liberal is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberal
    • Mulino
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Rivergrove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
    • Stafford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Stafford is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
    • Canemah
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Canemah is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canemah
  • Multnomah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
    • Hillsdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Milwaukie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodstock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Portland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Albina
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
    • Laurelhurst
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Montavilla
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Russellville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Hazelwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Maywood Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Rockwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
    • Lincoln
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Lincoln is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
    • Salemtowne
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Salemtowne is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemtowne
    • Zena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Zena is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
    • Crowley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Crowley is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
    • Eola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Eola is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Smithfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Smithfield is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
    • Rickreall
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dolph Corner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Dolph Corner is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph Corner
    • Independence
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
    • Middleton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Middleton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
    • Sherwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Durham
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Durham is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,908 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durham <1>
    • King City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Scholls
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Kinton ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Kinton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinton
    • Tigard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Tigard is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56,049 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tigard <1>
    • Metzger
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Metzger is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metzger
    • Farmington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Farmington is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
    • Progress
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Progress is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
    • Beaverton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Aloha
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
    • Dundee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Newberg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Dayton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Lafayette
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Saint Joseph
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
    • Hopewell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Eola Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
    • Carlton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • McMinnville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Whiteson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
    • Cove Orchard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
    • Yamhill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
  • Clark County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donald, with the one closest to Donald listed first.
    • Vancouver
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Cascade Park East
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cascade Park West
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
    • Fisher
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Fisher is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher

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

Cemeteries Near Donald ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donald.

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 Donald - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hubbard Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Weston Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Champoeg Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Aurora Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Old Colony Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Butteville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • MacLaren Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Aurora IOOF Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Irvin Pioneer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Mennonite Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (259 more) ...

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 Donald in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Donald.

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

  • Butteville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Butteville is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
  • Hubbard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Aurora
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Champoeg ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Champoeg is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
  • Woodburn
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Barlow
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Barlow is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
  • Saint Paul
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Needy ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Needy is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
  • Canby
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Canby is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,027 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canby <1>
  • Wilsonville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Gervais
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • McKee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • McKee is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Macksburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Macksburg is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
    • Newberg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Middleton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Middleton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Donald ...

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 91 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donald.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Donald. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Donald and those printed in the larger area surrounding Donald.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4> of Donald.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Donald:

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 Donald, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Donald) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.