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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 Laurel (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 Laurel. 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 southwest 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 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.

Laurel 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 Laurel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Laurel:

  • Washington County     (The home county of Laurel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Scholls
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Farmington
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Farmington is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
    • Kinton ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Kinton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinton
    • Blooming
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Blooming is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blooming
    • Newton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Newton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
    • Hillsboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Aloha
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Reedville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Reedville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
    • Tobias
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tobias is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobias
    • Cornelius
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Gaston
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Dilley
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Dilley is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dilley
    • Middleton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Middleton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
  • Clackamas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Tualatin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Rivergrove
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
    • Wilsonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake Oswego
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Stafford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Stafford is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Christie is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
    • Marylhurst
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Willamette
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Willamette is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willamette
    • Oak Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • West Linn
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Barlow
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Barlow is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Canemah
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Canemah is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canemah
    • Canby
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Scappoose
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Warren
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Champoeg ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Champoeg is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
    • Butteville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Butteville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
    • Saint Paul
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Butteville Station ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Butteville Station is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
    • Donald
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Aurora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hubbard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodburn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Gervais
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • McKee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • McKee is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
    • Brooks
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Mount Angel
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Downs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Downs is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downs
  • Multnomah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Hillsdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Portland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Milwaukie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Albina
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
    • Burlington
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Burlington is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
    • Woodstock
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Laurelhurst
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Vanport City ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Vanport City is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
    • Montavilla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Russellville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Maywood Park
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hazelwood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Lincoln
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Lincoln is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
    • Zena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Zena is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
    • Salemtowne
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Salemtowne is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemtowne
  • Tillamook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Ryan's Camp ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • 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
    • Jordan Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Jordan Creek is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Creek
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Newberg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Cove Orchard
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
    • Dundee
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Yamhill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Carlton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Lafayette
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Dayton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Saint Joseph
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
    • McMinnville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Eola Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
    • Whiteson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
    • Hopewell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Amity
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
  • Clark County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Laurel, with the one closest to Laurel listed first.
    • Vancouver
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Hazel Dell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Shore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Shore is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
    • Minnehaha
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
    • Felida
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
    • Cascade Park West
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
    • Walnut Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
    • Barberton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Barberton is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
    • Cascade Park East
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fisher
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fisher is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
    • Salmon Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Salmon Creek is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
    • Sara
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Sara is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
    • Five Corners
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Five Corners is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners

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

Cemeteries Near Laurel ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Laurel.

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

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

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

  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Mountainside Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Lewis Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Iowa Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Noble Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • St. Matthews Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Blooming Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Fern Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Gibbs Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Cooper Mtn. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (217 more) ...
    • Cooper Mtn. Evangelical Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Stewart Family Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Valley Memorial Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Laurel had a population of 22 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Farmington
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Farmington is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
  • Newton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Newton is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
  • Newberg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Cornelius
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Reedville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Reedville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
  • Hillsboro
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Gaston
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Middleton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Middleton is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
  • Centerville ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Centerville is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
  • Beaverton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Forest Grove
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Tualatin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Progress
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Progress is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
    • Cedar Mill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • West Union
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • West Union is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union

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

Newspapers Published in Laurel ...

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 75 newspapers that have been published in the area around Laurel.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Laurel, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Laurel.

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 Laurel:

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 Laurel, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Laurel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.