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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 Natal (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 Natal. 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 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.

Natal is located in Columbia 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 Columbia County: Clatsop, Multnomah, Washington, Clark (WA), Cowlitz (WA) & Wahkiakum (WA).

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

  • Columbia County     (The home county of Natal)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
    • Pittsburg
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
    • Fishhawk ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Fishhawk is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
    • Clatskanie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Vernonia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Keasey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Keasey is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
    • Quincy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Quincy is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
    • Beaver Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Beaver Springs is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
    • Mayger
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Mayger is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayger
    • Rainier
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Goble
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Goble is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
    • Prescott
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Prescott is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
    • Reuben
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Reuben is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
  • Clatsop County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
    • Westport
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jewell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Jewell is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
    • Vinemaple
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Vinemaple is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinemaple
    • Clifton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Clifton is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
    • Brownsmead
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Brownsmead is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsmead
    • Svensen Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Svensen Junction is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svensen Junction
  • Multnomah County
    • Burlington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Burlington is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
  • Tillamook County
    • Ryan's Camp ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • 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
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
    • Timber
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Buxton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Manning
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Banks
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Banks is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,034 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Banks <1>
    • Mountaindale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Mountaindale is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Christie is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
      • Christie has also been known as:
      • Carstens
    • Gales Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Kansas City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Kansas City is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas City
    • North Plains
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Centerville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Centerville is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
    • Watts
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Watts is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watts
  • Clark County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
    • Woodland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Ridgefield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • La Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Sara
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sara is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
    • Etna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Etna is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Pioneer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Pioneer is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
    • Felida
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
  • Cowlitz County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
    • Oak Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
    • Bunker Hill
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Bunker Hill is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
    • Stella
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Stella is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • West Longview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • West Longview is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Longview
    • Longview
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Longview is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 38,515 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Longview <1>
    • Kalama
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Kalama is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalama
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,844 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kalama <1>
    • Carrolls
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Coal Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Coal Creek is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Creek
    • Kelso
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Kelso is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,438 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kelso <1>
    • Longview Heights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Longview Heights is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview Heights
    • Rose Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Rose Valley is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Valley
    • Ostrander
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ostrander is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ostrander
  • Wahkiakum County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Natal, with the one closest to Natal listed first.
    • Eagle Cliff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Eagle Cliff is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Cliff
    • Cathlamet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • East Cathlamet
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • East Cathlamet is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cathlamet
    • Skamokawa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookfield is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
    • Dahlia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Dahlia is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlia
    • Altoona
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Altoona is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona

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

Cemeteries Near Natal ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Natal.

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

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

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

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

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

  • Mist
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mist is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mist
  • Pittsburg
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
  • Fishhawk ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Fishhawk is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
  • Vernonia
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Apiary ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Apiary is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Apiary
  • Clatskanie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Keasey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Keasey is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
  • Waterford
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Waterford is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
  • Mayger
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Mayger is located in Columbia County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayger
  • Westport
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Eagle Cliff
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Eagle Cliff is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Cliff
  • Rainier
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Oak Point
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
    • Jewell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Jewell is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
    • Reuben
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Reuben is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben

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

Newspapers Published in Natal ...

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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Natal.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Natal, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Natal.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Natal:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Natal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<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 Natal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.