RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Oregon >> Polk County >> Ritner >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Ritner (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 Ritner. 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 and hospitals 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.

Ritner 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 Ritner. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ritner:

  • Polk County     (The home county of Ritner)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ritner, with the one closest to Ritner listed first.
    • Airlie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Airlie is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
    • Lewisville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lewisville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
    • Bridgeport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeport is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Falls City
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Monmouth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Valsetz ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Valsetz is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valsetz
    • Buena Vista
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Buena Vista is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
    • Ellendale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Ellendale is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
    • Dallas
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Independence
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Rickreall
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Dolph Corner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Dolph Corner is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph Corner
    • Smithfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Smithfield is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ritner, with the one closest to Ritner listed first.
    • Kings Valley
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Blodgett
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Wren
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Wren is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
    • Summit
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Summit is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Adair Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Adair Village is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adair Village
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 872 people
    • Wellsdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Wellsdale is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsdale
    • Lewisburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Lewisburg is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Flynn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Flynn is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flynn
    • Philomath
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Corvallis
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • North Albany
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • North Albany is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Albany
    • Jennyopolis ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jennyopolis is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennyopolis
    • Alsea
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ritner, with the one closest to Ritner listed first.
    • Logsden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Eddyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Pioneer City ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Pioneer City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer City
    • Elk City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Elk City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elk City
    • Siletz
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Toledo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Rose Lodge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Kernville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Kernville is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernville
    • Newport Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Newport Heights is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport Heights
    • Yaquina
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Yaquina is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yaquina
      • Yaquina has also been known as:
      • Yaquina City
    • Cutler City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cutler City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutler City
    • Depoe Bay
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Gleneden Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ritner, with the one closest to Ritner listed first.
    • Millersburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Millersburg is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,757 people
    • Albany
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Oakville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Oakville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
    • Draperville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Draperville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draperville
    • Tangent
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Shedd
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Boston ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Boston is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boston
      • Boston has also been known as:
      • Boston Mills
    • Irvinville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Irvinville is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvinville
    • Crabtree
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • West Scio
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • West Scio is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Scio
    • Halsey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Scio
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Lebanon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ritner, with the one closest to Ritner listed first.
    • Santiam City ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Santiam City is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Santiam City
    • Jefferson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Marion
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Salem
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Salem is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 175,891 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Salem <1>
    • Turner
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Four Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Four Corners is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
    • Badger Corner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Badger Corner is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Badger Corner
    • West Stayton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Hayesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hayesville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
    • Keizer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Aumsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Chemawa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Chemawa is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
    • Macleay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Macleay is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macleay
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ritner, with the one closest to Ritner listed first.
    • Willamina
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Sheridan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Bellevue
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Bellevue is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
    • Amity
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Amity is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amity
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,722 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Amity <1>
    • Hopewell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Ritner ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ritner.

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

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

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

  • Edwards Pioneer Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Pedee Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Womer Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Ft. Hoskins Military Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Kings Valley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • King Family Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Claremont Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Montgomery Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Williams Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • May Stouts Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May Stouts Cemetery
    • The May Stouts Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Hamar Cemetery
    • Mays Cemetery
    • Mays Strouts Cemetery
    • Strouts Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39107 <2>
  • Hubbard Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (143 more) ...
    • Summit Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Summit Cemetery is located outside and to the southeast of Summit.
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #39466 <2>
    • Blodgett Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Wren Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 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 Ritner in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ritner.

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

  • Kings Valley
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Hoskins
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Hoskins is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoskins
  • Airlie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Airlie is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Airlie
  • Lewisville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewisville is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
  • Simpson
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Simpson is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
  • Summit
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Summit is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
  • Blodgett
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Wren
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Wren is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
  • Falls City
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Harris
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Harris is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
  • Suver
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Suver is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suver
  • Lewisburg
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lewisburg is located in Benton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Wellsdale
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Wellsdale is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsdale
    • Philomath
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Corvallis
      (13 miles [20.9 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 Ritner. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ritner.

Newspapers Published in Ritner ...

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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ritner.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ritner, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ritner.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Ritner:

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 Ritner, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Ritner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.