RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Oregon >> Benton County >> Dry Creek >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Dry Creek (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 Dry Creek. 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 Dry Creek ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Dry Creek: Dry Crk. (or less commonly used: Dry Ck. or Dry Cr.)

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

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 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.

Dry Creek is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion & Polk.

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

  • Benton County     (The home county of Dry Creek)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Creek, with the one closest to Dry Creek listed first.
    • Jennyopolis ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Jennyopolis is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennyopolis
    • Corvallis
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Philomath
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Flynn
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Flynn is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn
    • Lewisburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Lewisburg is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Wren
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Wren is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
    • Bellfountain Junction
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Adair Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Adair Village is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adair Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 872 people
    • North Albany
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • North Albany is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Albany
    • Blodgett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Monroe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Wellsdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Wellsdale is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsdale
  • Lane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Creek, with the one closest to Dry Creek listed first.
    • Junction City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Cheshire
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Franklin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Franklin is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
    • Blachly
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Alvadore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Coburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Santa Clara
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Santa Clara is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Clara
    • Fern Ridge Shores
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Fern Ridge Shores is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern Ridge Shores
    • River Road
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • River Road is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
    • Mabel
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mabel is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Elmira
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Marcola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Creek, with the one closest to Dry Creek listed first.
    • Eddyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Logsden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Elk City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Elk City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
    • Pioneer City ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Pioneer City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer City
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Creek, with the one closest to Dry Creek listed first.
    • Oakville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Oakville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
    • Shedd
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Tangent
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Boston ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Boston is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
      • Boston has also been known as:
      • Boston Mills
    • Halsey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Albany
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Draperville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Draperville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draperville
    • Irvinville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Irvinville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvinville
    • Millersburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Millersburg is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,757 people
    • Harrisburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Brownsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lebanon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Creek, with the one closest to Dry Creek listed first.
    • Jefferson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Santiam City ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Santiam City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiam City
    • Marion
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • West Stayton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Turner
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Aumsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dry Creek, with the one closest to Dry Creek listed first.
    • Airlie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Airlie is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
    • Buena Vista
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Buena Vista is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Lewisville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Lewisville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
    • Monmouth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bridgeport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeport is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Independence
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Falls City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Dallas
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Ellendale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Ellendale is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
    • Rickreall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Valsetz ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Valsetz is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valsetz
    • Eola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Eola is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola

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

Cemeteries Near Dry Creek ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dry Creek.

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 Dry Creek - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Oak Lawn Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Lawn Memorial Park
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Oak Lawn Memorial Park is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the south of Corvallis.
    • The Oak Lawn Memorial Park has also been known as:
    • Benton Cemetery
    • Oaklawn Memorial Park
    • Oaklawn Memorial Park
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39223 <3>
  • Armstrong Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Oakridge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Crystal Lake Masonic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Union Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Brattain Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Oakville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Islamic Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Henderson Family Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • IOOF Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for IOOF Cemetery
    • The IOOF Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Odd Fellows Cemetery
    • Pioneer Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #835122 <3>
  • Irwin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Winkle Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (150 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.<4>

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

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

  • Oakville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Oakville is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
  • Corvallis
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Philomath
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Peoria
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Peoria is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
  • Shedd
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Tangent
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Lewisburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Lewisburg is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
  • Wren
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Wren is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
  • Harris
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Harris is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
  • Halsey
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Albany
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Monroe
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Plainview
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Plainview is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainview
    • Fry
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Fry is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fry
    • Blodgett
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Dry Creek ...

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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dry Creek.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dry Creek, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dry Creek.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 Dry Creek:

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