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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 Luther (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 Luther. 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 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.

Luther is located in Clackamas 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 Clackamas County: Hood River, Marion, Multnomah, Wasco, Washington & Yamhill.

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

  • Clackamas County     (The home county of Luther)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Happy Valley
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Clackamas
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Johnson City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Johnson City is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 627 people
    • Oatfield
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Oatfield is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
    • Sunnyside
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunnyside is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
    • Jennings Lodge
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Christie is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
    • Oak Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Gladstone
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Park Place
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Park Place is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Place
    • Marylhurst
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Carver
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Scappoose
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Warren
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Helens
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Butteville Station ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Butteville Station is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
    • Aurora
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Butteville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Butteville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
    • Donald
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Champoeg ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Champoeg is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
    • Hubbard
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Paul
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • McKee
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • McKee is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
    • Mount Angel
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Gervais
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Scotts Mills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Multnomah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Woodstock
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Milwaukie
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Laurelhurst
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Montavilla
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Russellville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Hazelwood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Hillsdale
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Maywood Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Rockwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Rockwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
    • Portland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Albina
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Metzger
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Metzger is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metzger
    • Raleigh Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Raleigh Hills is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh Hills
    • Durham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Progress
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Progress is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
    • Tigard
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • West Slope
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • West Slope is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
    • Cedar Hills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Beaverton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Cedar Mill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • King City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Marlene Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Marlene Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
    • Aloha
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Newberg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Dundee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Cove Orchard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
    • Dayton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lafayette
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Carlton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Yamhill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Clark County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Fisher
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Fisher is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
    • Cascade Park East
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Cascade Park West
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
    • Vancouver
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Camas
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Camas is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,981 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Camas <1>
    • Mill Plain
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Mill Plain is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Plain
    • Washougal
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Minnehaha
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
    • Walnut Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
    • Five Corners
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Five Corners is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
    • Hazel Dell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Fern Prairie
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Fern Prairie is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern Prairie
  • Skamania County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Luther, with the one closest to Luther listed first.
    • Cruzatt
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cruzatt is located in Skamania County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruzatt
    • Skamania
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Skamania is located in Skamania County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skamania

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

Cemeteries Near Luther ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Luther.

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

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

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

  • Congregation Shaarie Torah Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Keser Israel Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Chimes Memorial Gardens
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chimes Memorial Gardens
    • The Chimes Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
    • Little Chapel Of The Chimes
    • Sunnyside Little Chapel Of The Chimes
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2156227 <2>
  • Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Lincoln Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Memorial Park
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Lincoln Memorial Park is a very large cemetery that is located in Portland.
    • The Lincoln Memorial Park has also been known as:
    • Lincoln Memorial Cemetery
    • Mt. Scott Park Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39045 <2>
  • Multnomah Park Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Clackamas Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Willamette National Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Williamette National Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Milwaukie Pioneer Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Sunnyside Pioneer Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Deardorf Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (218 more) ...
    • Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Brainerd Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Beth Israel Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Lents
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Lents is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lents
  • Woodstock
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
  • Milwaukie
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Clackamas
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Sunnyside
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunnyside is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
  • Sycamore
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Sycamore is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
  • Sellwood
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Sellwood is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellwood
  • Russellville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Russellville is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
  • Montavilla
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
  • Fulton ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
  • Gladstone
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Park Place
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Park Place is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Place
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • East Portland
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • East Portland is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Portland
    • South Portland ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • South Portland is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Portland
    • Bertha ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Bertha is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha

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

Newspapers Published in Luther ...

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 235 newspapers that have been published in the area around Luther.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Luther, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Luther.

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 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 Luther:

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 Luther, 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- Luther) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.