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 Oak Grove (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 Oak Grove. 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 Oak Grove ...
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.
Another variation: Oakgrove.
- A typical abbreviation for Oak Grove: Oak Grv.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oak Grove. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oak Grove.
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 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.
Oak Grove is located in Polk 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 Polk County: Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Tillamook & Yamhill.
Below are the counties that are near Oak Grove. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Grove:
- Polk County (The home county of Oak Grove)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Crowley
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Crowley is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
- Zena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Zena is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
- Eola
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eola is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
- Rickreall
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Salemtowne
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Salemtowne is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemtowne
- Smithfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Smithfield is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Dolph Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Dolph Corner is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph Corner
- Dallas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Independence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Monmouth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ellendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ellendale is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Buell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Buell is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Wellsdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Wellsdale is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsdale
- Adair Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Adair Village is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adair Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 872 people
- North Albany
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Albany is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Albany
- Kings Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lewisburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lewisburg is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
- Corvallis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Wren
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wren is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Summit
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Summit is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
- Clackamas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Needy ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Needy is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
- Barlow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Barlow is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Macksburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Macksburg is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Molalla
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Wilhoit
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Wilhoit is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhoit
- Canby
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Millersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Millersburg is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,757 people
- West Scio
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- West Scio is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Scio
- Draperville
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Draperville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draperville
- Albany
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Scio
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Crabtree
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Tangent
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Irvinville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Irvinville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvinville
- Lyons
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Keizer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Salem
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Chemawa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Chemawa is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
- Badger Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Badger Corner is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Badger Corner
- Four Corners
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Four Corners is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
- Hayesville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Hayesville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
- Labish Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Labish Village is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Labish Village
- Brooks
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Turner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Macleay
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Macleay is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macleay
- Gervais
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Aumsville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Santiam City ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Santiam City is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiam City
- Washington County
- Middleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Middleton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Yamhill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Amity
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hopewell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eola Village
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
- Whiteson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
- Bellevue
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bellevue is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Sheridan
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- McMinnville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Willamina
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dayton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Saint Joseph
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- Lafayette
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Carlton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Dundee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Grove, see our County-by-County Page for Oak Grove.
Cemeteries Near Oak Grove ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Grove.
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 Oak Grove - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Grove covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Rest Lawn Memory Gardens
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Etna Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Zena Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Fast Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Embree Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Halls Ferry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Belcrest Memorial Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- St. Barbara Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- City View Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (194 more) ...
- Salem Pioneer Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Claggett Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dallas Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dallas Cemetery
- The Dallas Cemetery has also been known as:
- IOOF Cemetery
- IOOF Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #246163 <2>
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 Oak Grove in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Grove.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Grove, with the one closest to Oak Grove listed first.
- Crowley
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Crowley is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
- Rickreall
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Derry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Derry is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derry
- Eola
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Eola is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
- Zena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Zena is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
- Smithfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Smithfield is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
- McCoy
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- McCoy is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCoy
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Cochrane ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cochrane is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
- Perrydale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Perrydale is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrydale
- Dallas
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Salem
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Independence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dencer ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dencer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dencer
- Chemawa
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Chemawa is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Grove. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Grove.
Newspapers Published in Oak Grove ...
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 143 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Grove.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Grove, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Grove.
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 Oak Grove:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Clackamas County
- Linn County
- Marion County
- Washington County
- Yamhill 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 Oak Grove, 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- Oak Grove) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |