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 Sylvan (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 Sylvan. 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 doctors and 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.
Sylvan is located in Multnomah 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 Multnomah County: Clackamas, Columbia, Hood River, Washington, Clark (WA) & Skamania (WA).
Below are the counties that are near Sylvan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sylvan:
- Multnomah County (The home county of Sylvan)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Portland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hillsdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Albina
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Albina is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
- Fulton ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Laurelhurst
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
- Woodstock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
- Vanport City ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Vanport City is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
- Milwaukie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Montavilla
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
- Maywood Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Russellville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Russellville is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
- Burlington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Burlington is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Clackamas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Lake Oswego
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Oak Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Rivergrove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
- Christie ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Christie is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
- Marylhurst
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oatfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Oatfield is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
- Stafford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Stafford is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Tualatin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Clackamas
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gladstone
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jennings Lodge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
- Johnson City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Johnson City is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 627 people
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Scappoose
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Warren
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Saint Helens
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Columbia City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Deer Island
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Butteville Station ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Butteville Station is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
- Butteville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Butteville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
- Aurora
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Champoeg ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Champoeg is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
- Donald
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hubbard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Saint Paul
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Woodburn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Gervais
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- McKee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- McKee is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
- Mount Angel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- West Slope
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- West Slope is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
- Raleigh Hills
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Raleigh Hills is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh Hills
- Cedar Hills
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cedar Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Metzger
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Metzger is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metzger
- Beaverton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Progress
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Progress is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Marlene Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Marlene Village is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
- Bethany
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bethany is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
- Oak Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oak Hills is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills
- Tigard
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Aloha
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Yamhill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Newberg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dundee
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Cove Orchard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
- Yamhill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carlton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Dayton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joseph
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- McMinnville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clark County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Vancouver
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Hazel Dell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Minnehaha
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
- Cascade Park West
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
- Lake Shore
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lake Shore is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
- Cascade Park East
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fisher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fisher is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
- Walnut Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Grove is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
- Felida
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
- Barberton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barberton is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
- Five Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Five Corners is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
- Homan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Homan is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homan
- Skamania County (WA)
- Cruzatt
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Cruzatt is located in Skamania County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruzatt
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sylvan, see our County-by-County Page for Sylvan.
Cemeteries Near Sylvan ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sylvan.
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 Sylvan - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sylvan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Jones Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Finley - Sunset Hills Memorial Park
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Neveh Zedek Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Patton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Skyline Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Pius Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Crescent Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Ahavai Sholom Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Greenwood Hills Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beth Israel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (228 more) ...
- River View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Sylvan had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sylvan, with the one closest to Sylvan listed first.
- Bertha ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bertha is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
- Hillsdale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- South Portland ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- South Portland is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Portland
- Portland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Garden Home
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Garden Home is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Home
- West Portland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- West Portland is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Portland
- East Portland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- East Portland is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Portland
- Albina
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Albina is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
- Cedar Mill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Beaverton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Progress
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Progress is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
- Fulton ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- University Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- University Park is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
- Sellwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Sellwood is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellwood
- Bethany
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bethany is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sylvan. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sylvan.
Newspapers Published in Sylvan ...
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 268 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sylvan.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sylvan, there are papers which were published within 9 miles [14.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sylvan.
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 Sylvan:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Multnomah County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clackamas County
- Columbia County
- Marion County
- Washington County
- Yamhill County
- Clark County
- Skamania 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> | 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 Sylvan, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Sylvan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |