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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 Rural Dell (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 Rural Dell. 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 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.

Rural Dell is located in Clackamas 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 Clackamas County: Hood River, Marion, Multnomah, Wasco, Washington & Yamhill.

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

  • Clackamas County     (The home county of Rural Dell)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rural Dell, with the one closest to Rural Dell listed first.
    • Needy ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Needy is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
    • Macksburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Macksburg is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
    • Liberal
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Liberal is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberal
    • Mulino
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Molalla
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Barlow
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Barlow is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
    • Wilhoit
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilhoit is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhoit
    • Canby
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Canby is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,027 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canby <1>
    • Carus
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Carus is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carus
    • Glen Avon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Glen Avon is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
    • Colton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Beavercreek
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Linn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rural Dell, with the one closest to Rural Dell listed first.
    • Lyons
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Mill City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Jordan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Jordan is located in Linn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
    • Gates
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rural Dell, with the one closest to Rural Dell listed first.
    • Aurora
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Scotts Mills
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Hubbard
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • McKee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • McKee is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
    • Mount Angel
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Butteville Station ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Butteville Station is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
    • Donald
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Downs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Downs is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downs
    • Woodburn
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Silverton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Butteville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Butteville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
    • Gervais
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Multnomah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rural Dell, with the one closest to Rural Dell listed first.
    • Milwaukie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Hillsdale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Woodstock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Montavilla
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Portland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Russellville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Gresham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Gresham is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 110,031 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gresham <1>
    • Hazelwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Laurelhurst
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Rockwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Rockwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
    • Albina
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
  • Polk County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rural Dell, with the one closest to Rural Dell listed first.
    • Lincoln
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lincoln is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
    • Salemtowne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Salemtowne is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemtowne
    • Zena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Zena is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
    • Eola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Eola is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Crowley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Crowley is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rural Dell, with the one closest to Rural Dell listed first.
    • Middleton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Middleton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
    • Durham
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Durham is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,908 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durham <1>
    • Sherwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • King City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Tigard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Tigard is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tigard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 56,049 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tigard <1>
    • Metzger
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Metzger is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metzger
    • Kinton ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Kinton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinton
    • Progress
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Progress is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
    • Scholls
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Raleigh Hills
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Raleigh Hills is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh Hills
    • Beaverton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • West Slope
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • West Slope is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rural Dell, with the one closest to Rural Dell listed first.
    • Newberg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Dundee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Dayton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Hopewell
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Lafayette
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Eola Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
    • Saint Joseph
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
    • McMinnville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Whiteson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
    • Amity
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Carlton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Cove Orchard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard

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

Cemeteries Near Rural Dell ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rural Dell.

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 Rural Dell - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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 Rural Dell in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rural Dell.

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

  • Needy ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Needy is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
  • Macksburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Macksburg is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
  • Marquam
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Marquam is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marquam
  • Union Mills
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Union Mills is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union Mills
  • Molalla
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Mulino
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Scotts Mills
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Wilhoit
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Wilhoit is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhoit
  • Barlow
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Barlow is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
  • Aurora
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Hubbard
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • McKee
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • McKee is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Canby
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Canby is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,027 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Canby <1>
    • Mount Angel
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Clarkes
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Clarkes is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkes

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

Newspapers Published in Rural Dell ...

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 95 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rural Dell.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rural Dell, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rural Dell.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Rural Dell:

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 Rural Dell, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Rural Dell) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.