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 Tophill (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 Tophill. 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.
Tophill 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 Tophill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Tophill:
- Washington County (The home county of Tophill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Buxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Timber
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Manning
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Banks
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gales Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Kansas City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Kansas City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kansas City
- Christie ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Christie is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
- Christie has also been known as:
- Carstens
- Mountaindale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Watts
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Watts is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watts
- North Plains
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Forest Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cornelius
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clatsop County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Jewell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Jewell is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewell
- Vinemaple
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Vinemaple is located in Clatsop County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinemaple
- Westport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Columbia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Vernonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Keasey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keasey is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
- Pittsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Scappoose
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Warren
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fishhawk ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Fishhawk is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishhawk
- Saint Helens
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Columbia City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Deer Island
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Springs is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
- Goble
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Goble is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
- Reuben
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Reuben is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
- Clatskanie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Multnomah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Burlington
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Burlington is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Vanport City ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Vanport City is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
- Albina
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Albina is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
- Portland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
- Tillamook County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Ryan's Camp ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- 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
- Jordan Creek
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan Creek is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan Creek
- Foss
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Foss is located in Tillamook County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foss
- Yamhill County
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Cove Orchard
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
- Yamhill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Clark County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Ridgefield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Felida
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
- Sara
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sara is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
- Lake Shore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Lake Shore is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
- Woodland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hazel Dell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- La Center
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pioneer
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Pioneer is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
- Salmon Creek
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Salmon Creek is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
- Vancouver
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Minnehaha
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
- Mount Vista
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Mount Vista is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
- Dollar's Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Dollar's Corner is located in Clark County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar's Corner
- Cowlitz County (WA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Kalama
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Carrolls
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Longview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- West Longview is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Longview
- Longview
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rose Valley is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Valley
- Oak Point
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Oak Point is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Point
- Stella
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Stella is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
- Kelso
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kelso is located in Cowlitz County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,438 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kelso <1>
- Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Eagle Cliff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Eagle Cliff is located in Wahkiakum County (WA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Cliff
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Tophill, see our County-by-County Page for Tophill.
Cemeteries Near Tophill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tophill.
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 Tophill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Tophill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Buxton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- North Cemetery of Clear Creek
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hayward Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hall - Tipton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vernonia Memorial Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vernonia Pioneer Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Pisgah Home Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Union Point Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Raffety Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hillside Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- St. Francis Catholic Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arcade Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (114 more) ...
- Gales Creek Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Harrison Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mountain View Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
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 Tophill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Tophill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Tophill, with the one closest to Tophill listed first.
- Buxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Manning
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Glenwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glenwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenwood
- Vernonia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Dixie ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Dixie is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie
- Keasey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Keasey is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keasey
- Pittsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Pittsburg is located in Columbia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
- Gales Creek
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Greenville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Greenville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- Mountaindale
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mountaindale is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
- Glencoe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Glencoe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
- Centerville ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Scappoose
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Forest Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Cornelius
(17 miles [27.4 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 Tophill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Tophill.
Newspapers Published in Tophill ...
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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tophill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Tophill, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Tophill.
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 Tophill:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clatsop County
- Columbia County
- Multnomah County
- Tillamook County
- Yamhill County
- Clark County
- Cowlitz County
- Wahkiakum 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 Tophill, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Tophill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |