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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 Olney (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 Olney. 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 northwest 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 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.

Olney is located in Clatsop 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 Clatsop County: Columbia, Tillamook, Washington, Pacific (WA) & Wahkiakum (WA).

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

  • Clatsop County     (The home county of Olney)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
    • Chadwell ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Chadwell is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwell
    • Jeffers Garden
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jeffers Garden is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeffers Garden
    • Tongue Point Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Tongue Point Village is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tongue Point Village
    • Svensen Junction
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Svensen Junction is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svensen Junction
    • Astoria
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Warrenton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gearhart
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Seaside
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hammond
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brownsmead
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Brownsmead is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsmead
    • Clifton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Clifton is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
    • Jewell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Jewell is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
    • Cannon Beach
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
    • Fishhawk ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Fishhawk is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
    • Clatskanie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Keasey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Keasey is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
    • Quincy
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Quincy is located in Columbia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
  • Tillamook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
    • Manzanita
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Nehalem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Foss
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Foss is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foss
    • Wheeler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Cowlitz County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
    • Oak Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
    • Bunker Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bunker Hill is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
  • Pacific County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
    • Megler
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Megler is located in Pacific County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Megler
    • Knappton ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Knappton is located in Pacific County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knappton
    • Chinook
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Naselle
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Fort Canby
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Fort Canby is located in Pacific County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Canby
    • Ilwaco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Ilwaco is located in Pacific County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ilwaco
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,006 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ilwaco <1>
    • Pacific City ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Pacific City is located in Pacific County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pacific City
    • Seaview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Long Beach
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Breakers
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Breakers is located in Pacific County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breakers
    • Nahcotta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Ocean Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Wahkiakum County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Olney, with the one closest to Olney listed first.
    • Altoona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Altoona is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altoona
    • Dahlia
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Dahlia is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahlia
    • Brookfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brookfield is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
    • Rosburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Deep River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Deep River is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
    • Skamokawa
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Cathlamet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • East Cathlamet
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • East Cathlamet is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cathlamet
    • Grays River
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Eagle Cliff
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Eagle Cliff is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Cliff

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

Cemeteries Near Olney ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Olney.

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

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

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

  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Cemetery
    • The Greenwood Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Crestview Greenwood Cemetery
    • Green Wood Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #38848 <2>
  • Lewis & Clark Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Riverview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Svensen Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Svensen Pioneer Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Svensen Pioneer Cemetery is located outside and to the southeast of Svensen Junction.
    • The Svensen Pioneer Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Forest Hill Cemetery
    • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    • Svensen Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #38789 <2>
  • Astoria Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Clatsop Plains Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Prairie Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Warrenton Pauper Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Ocean View Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Ft. Stevens Post Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (31 more) ...

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Olney had a population of 76 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Melville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Melville is located in Clatsop County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melville
  • Chadwell ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Chadwell is located in Clatsop County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chadwell
  • Astoria
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Skipanon ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Skipanon is located in Clatsop County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skipanon
  • Seaside
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Knappa
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Knappa is located in Clatsop County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knappa
  • Knappton ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Knappton is located in Pacific County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knappton
  • Frankfort ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Frankfort is located in Pacific County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankfort
  • Brookfield
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Brookfield is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
  • Jewell
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jewell is located in Clatsop County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
  • Clifton
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Clifton is located in Clatsop County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
  • Cannon Beach
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Vinemaple
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Vinemaple is located in Clatsop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinemaple
    • Deep River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Deep River is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deep River
    • Westport
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Olney ...

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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Olney.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Olney, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Olney.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Olney:

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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Olney) 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 Olney, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.