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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 Plainview (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 Plainview. 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 southwest 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 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.

Plainview is located in Linn 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 Linn County: Benton, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Marion & Polk.

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

  • Linn County     (The home county of Plainview)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Boston ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Boston is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
      • Boston has also been known as:
      • Boston Mills
    • South Lebanon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • South Lebanon is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lebanon
    • Shedd
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Irvinville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Irvinville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvinville
    • Lebanon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Tangent
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brownsville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Sodaville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Sodaville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodaville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
    • Halsey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Oakville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
    • Waterloo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Waterloo is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
    • Albany
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • North Albany
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • North Albany is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Albany
    • Jennyopolis ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Jennyopolis is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennyopolis
    • Corvallis
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Lewisburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lewisburg is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Adair Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Adair Village is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adair Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 872 people
    • Bellfountain Junction
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Wellsdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wellsdale is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsdale
    • Philomath
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Monroe
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Flynn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Flynn is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn
    • Wren
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Wren is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
    • Kings Valley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Lane County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Mabel
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Mabel is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Junction City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Marcola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Coburg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Cheshire
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Santa Clara
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Santa Clara is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santa Clara
    • Franklin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Franklin is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin
    • Alvadore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • North Springfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • North Springfield is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Springfield
    • River Road
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • River Road is located in Lane County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Road
    • Springfield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Eugene
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Jefferson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Santiam City ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Santiam City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiam City
    • Marion
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • West Stayton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Stayton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Aumsville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Turner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Sublimity
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Mehama
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Macleay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Macleay is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macleay
    • Four Corners
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Four Corners is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plainview, with the one closest to Plainview listed first.
    • Buena Vista
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Buena Vista is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Airlie
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Airlie is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
    • Independence
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Lewisville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Lewisville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
    • Monmouth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Plainview ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plainview.

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

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

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

  • Claypool Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Sand Ridge Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Ridge Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Sand Ridge Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 4 miles [6.4 km]<2> to the west of Lebanon.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39401 <3>
  • Bunker Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Dodge Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Butte Baptist Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Pugh Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Brownsville Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • IOOF Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Masonic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • James Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Klum Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (164 more) ...
    • Fairview Mennonite Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Brattain Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Miller - Coon Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Plainview had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Shedd
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Brownsville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Lebanon
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Irvinville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Irvinville is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvinville
  • Tallman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Tallman is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallman
  • Tangent
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sodaville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Sodaville is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodaville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
  • Spicer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Spicer is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spicer
  • Fry
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Fry is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fry
  • Halsey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Oakville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Oakville is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
  • Peoria
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Peoria is located in Linn County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peoria
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Albany
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Waterloo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Waterloo is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
    • Crawfordsville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Plainview ...

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 85 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plainview.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plainview, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Plainview.

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 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 Plainview:

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>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- Plainview) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>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.
<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 Plainview, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.