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 North Plains (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 North Plains. 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 North Plains ...
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 North Plains: N. Plains
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.
North Plains 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 North Plains. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to North Plains:
- Washington County (The home county of North Plains)
- The following are listed by their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Mountaindale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mountaindale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Christie ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Christie is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
- Christie has also been known as:
- Carstens
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- West Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Union is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Banks
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Newton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Newton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Hillsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rockcreek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Rockcreek is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockcreek
- Cornelius
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Blooming
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Blooming is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blooming
- Forest Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kansas City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kansas City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas City
- Clackamas County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Tualatin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Oswego
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rivergrove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
- Stafford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Stafford is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Christie ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Christie is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
- Marylhurst
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Wilsonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Oatfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oatfield is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
- Jennings Lodge
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
- West Linn
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Willamette
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Willamette is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willamette
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Scappoose
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Warren
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Helens
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Vernonia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Columbia City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Deer Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Keasey
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Keasey is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
- Goble
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Goble is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
- Reuben
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Reuben is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Butteville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Butteville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
- Champoeg ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Champoeg is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
- Butteville Station ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Butteville Station is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
- Saint Paul
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Donald
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Aurora
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hubbard
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Multnomah County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Burlington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Burlington is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Vanport City ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Vanport City is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
- Portland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Albina
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Albina is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
- Hillsdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Laurelhurst
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
- Fulton ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Montavilla
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
- Milwaukie
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Woodstock
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Maywood Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Russellville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Tillamook County
- The following are listed by their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Ryan's Camp ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- 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
(29 miles [46.7 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 North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Cove Orchard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
- Yamhill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Newberg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Carlton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Dundee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lafayette
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Saint Joseph
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- Dayton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- McMinnville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Clark County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Hazel Dell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Vancouver
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Felida
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
- Lake Shore
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shore is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
- Minnehaha
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
- Sara
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sara is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
- Salmon Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Salmon Creek is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
- Walnut Grove
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Walnut Grove is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Ridgefield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Barberton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Barberton is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
- Mount Vista
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Vista is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
- Cascade Park West
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
- Cowlitz County (WA)
- Kalama
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to North Plains, see our County-by-County Page for North Plains.
Cemeteries Near North Plains ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of North Plains.
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 North Plains - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for North Plains covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Jackson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Old Scotch Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Scotch Church Cemetery
- The Old Scotch Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Tualatin Plains Cemetery
- Shadybrook Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Harrison Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Arcade Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Helvetia Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Raffety Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Visitation Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Francis Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Cornelius Methodist Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (183 more) ...
- IOOF Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Fir Lawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
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 North Plains in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of North Plains.
These communities are listed based on their distance from North Plains, with the one closest to North Plains listed first.
- Glencoe
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Glencoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
- Mountaindale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mountaindale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Centerville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- West Union
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- West Union is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Greenville
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Greenville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- Cornelius
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Newton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Newton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Hillsboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Reedville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Reedville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Holbrook
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Holbrook is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holbrook
- Bethany
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Bethany is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Dixie ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Dixie is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Manning
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Farmington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Farmington is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around North Plains. See our List of 1890's Communities around North Plains.
Newspapers Published in North Plains ...
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 239 newspapers that have been published in the area around North Plains.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of North Plains, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for North Plains.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 North Plains:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clackamas County
- Columbia County
- Marion County
- Multnomah County
- Tillamook County
- Yamhill County
- Clark County
- Cowlitz 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 North Plains, 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- North Plains) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |