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 Somerset West (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 Somerset West. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Somerset West is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook & Yamhill.
Below are the counties that are near Somerset West. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Somerset West:
- Washington County (The home county of Somerset West)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Rockcreek
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Rockcreek is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockcreek
- Bethany
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bethany is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Oak Hills
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Oak Hills is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills
- West Union
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- West Union is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Aloha
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Tobias
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Tobias is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tobias
- Cedar Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marlene Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Marlene Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
- Hillsboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Reedville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Reedville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Cedar Hills
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beaverton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Newton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Newton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Clackamas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Tualatin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Lake Oswego
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rivergrove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
- Christie ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Christie is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
- Marylhurst
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stafford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Stafford is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Oatfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Oatfield is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
- Wilsonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Jennings Lodge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
- West Linn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clackamas
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Gladstone
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Scappoose
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Warren
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Saint Helens
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Columbia City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Deer Island
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Vernonia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Butteville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Butteville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
- Butteville Station ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Butteville Station is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
- Champoeg ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Champoeg is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
- Aurora
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Donald
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Hubbard
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Woodburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Gervais
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- McKee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- McKee is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
- Multnomah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Burlington
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Burlington is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Portland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Albina
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Albina is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
- Vanport City ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vanport City is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
- Hillsdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Fulton ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Laurelhurst
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
- Woodstock
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Milwaukie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Maywood Park
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Montavilla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
- Russellville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Hazelwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
- Tillamook County
- Ryan's Camp ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ryan's Camp is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan's Camp
- Ryan's Camp has also been known as:
- Idiotville
- Yamhill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Newberg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Cove Orchard
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
- Dundee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Yamhill
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carlton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joseph
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- McMinnville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Eola Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
- Clark County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Vancouver
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Felida
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
- Hazel Dell
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shore
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shore is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
- Minnehaha
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
- Salmon Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Salmon Creek is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
- Sara
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sara is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
- Walnut Grove
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Grove is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Cascade Park West
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
- Barberton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Barberton is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
- Cascade Park East
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fisher
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fisher is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
- Five Corners
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Five Corners is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Somerset West, see our County-by-County Page for Somerset West.
Cemeteries Near Somerset West ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Somerset West.
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 Somerset West - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Somerset West covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- German Presbyterian Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bethany Methodist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- West Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Pius Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Valley Memorial Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Stewart Family Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Skyline Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Helvetia Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Phillips Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fir Lawn Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Continue List (216 more) ...
- Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- IOOF Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Cooper Mtn. Evangelical Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<2>
While we didn't find Somerset West in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Somerset West.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Somerset West, with the one closest to Somerset West listed first.
- Bethany
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bethany is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- West Union
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- West Union is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
- Hillsboro
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Reedville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Reedville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reedville
- Cedar Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Newton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Newton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton
- Beaverton
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Linnton
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Linnton is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linnton
- Sylvan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Sylvan is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
- Saint Johns
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Johns is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
- Farmington
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Farmington is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington
- Progress
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Progress is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Garden Home
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Home is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Home
- University Park
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- University Park is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
- Holbrook
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Holbrook is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holbrook
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Somerset West. See our List of 1890's Communities around Somerset West.
Newspapers Published in Somerset West ...
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 258 newspapers that have been published in the area around Somerset West.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Somerset West, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Somerset West.
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 Somerset West:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clackamas County
- Columbia County
- Marion County
- Multnomah County
- Tillamook County
- Yamhill County
- Clark 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> | 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 Somerset West, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Somerset West) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |