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 Grand Rapids (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 Grand Rapids. 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 Grand Rapids ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Grand Rapids: Grand Rpds.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Grand Rapids. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Grand Rapids.
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 doctors and 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.
Grand Rapids is located in Clatsop 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 Clatsop County: Columbia, Tillamook, Washington, Pacific (WA) & Wahkiakum (WA).
Below are the counties that are near Grand Rapids. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Grand Rapids:
- Clatsop County (The home county of Grand Rapids)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Jewell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jewell is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Vinemaple
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vinemaple is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinemaple
- Westport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Svensen Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Svensen Junction is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svensen Junction
- Brownsmead
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Brownsmead is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsmead
- Clifton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Clifton is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Chadwell ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chadwell is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwell
- Gearhart
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Seaside
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Arch Cape
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cannon Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Tolovana Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Keasey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Keasey is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
- Fishhawk ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fishhawk is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
- Vernonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Clatskanie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Quincy
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Quincy is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Mayger
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mayger is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayger
- Beaver Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Beaver Springs is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
- Rainier
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Reuben
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Reuben is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
- Tillamook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Ryan's Camp ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- 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
- Foss
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Foss is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foss
- Nehalem
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wheeler
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Jordan Creek is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Creek
- Manzanita
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Nedonna Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nedonna Beach is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nedonna Beach
- Rockaway Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Twin Rocks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Twin Rocks is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twin Rocks
- Garibaldi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hobsonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hobsonville is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hobsonville
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Timber
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Buxton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Manning
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Gales Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Banks
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kansas City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kansas City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas City
- Christie ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Christie is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
- Christie has also been known as:
- Carstens
- Mountaindale
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Watts
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Watts is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watts
- Cowlitz County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Oak Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Bunker Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bunker Hill is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Stella
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Stella is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- West Longview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Longview is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Longview
- Pacific County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Knappton ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Knappton is located in Pacific County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knappton
- Megler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Megler is located in Pacific County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megler
- Wahkiakum County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Cathlamet
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- East Cathlamet
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- East Cathlamet is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cathlamet
- Eagle Cliff
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle Cliff is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Cliff
- Brookfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Brookfield is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Dahlia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Dahlia is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlia
- Skamokawa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Altoona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Altoona is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona
- Rosburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Grand Rapids, see our County-by-County Page for Grand Rapids.
Cemeteries Near Grand Rapids ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Grand Rapids.
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 Grand Rapids - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Grand Rapids covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Jewell Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Sunny Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill Cemetery
- The Sunny Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Elsie Cemetery
- Elsie Road Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39469 <2>
- Hamlet Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Fishhawk Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- North Cemetery of Clear Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- United Brethren Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Vernonia Memorial Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Mist Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vernonia Pioneer Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Deeds Cemetery
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Hall - Tipton Cemetery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Westport Cemetery
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (61 more) ...
- Prairie Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Cemetery
- The Prairie Cemetery has also been known as:
- Knappa Prairie Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39309 <2>
- Svensen Pioneer Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svensen Pioneer Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Svensen Pioneer Cemetery is located outside and to the southeast of Svensen Junction.
- The Svensen Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
- Forest Hill Cemetery
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
- Svensen Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #38789 <2>
- Maplewood Cemetery
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
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 Grand Rapids in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Grand Rapids.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Grand Rapids, with the one closest to Grand Rapids listed first.
- Vinemaple
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vinemaple is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinemaple
- Jewell
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Jewell is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Keasey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Keasey is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
- Fishhawk ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fishhawk is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
- Mist
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Mist is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mist
- Vernonia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Westport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Olney
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Olney is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olney
- Knappa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Knappa is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knappa
- Clatskanie
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Melville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Melville is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Glenwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Glenwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Waterford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Waterford is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Buxton
(21 miles [33.8 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 Grand Rapids. See our List of 1890's Communities around Grand Rapids.
Newspapers Published in Grand Rapids ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Grand Rapids.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Grand Rapids, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Grand Rapids.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Grand Rapids:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Clatsop County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Columbia County
- Tillamook County
- Washington County
- Cowlitz County
- Pacific County
- Wahkiakum County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Oregon
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 Grand Rapids, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Grand Rapids) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |