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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 Valley Junction (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 Valley Junction. 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.

Name Variations for Valley Junction ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Valley Junction: Valley Jct. (or less commonly used: Valley Jctn.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Valley Junction. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Valley Junction.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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.

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

  • Polk County     (The home county of Valley Junction)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
    • Grand Ronde
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Buell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Buell is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buell
    • Ellendale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ellendale is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
    • Dolph Corner
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Dolph Corner is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph Corner
    • Smithfield
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Smithfield is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
    • Valsetz ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Valsetz is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valsetz
    • Dallas
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Falls City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Bridgeport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bridgeport is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
    • Crowley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Crowley is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
    • Rickreall
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Lewisville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lewisville is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
    • Kings Valley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Summit
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Summit is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
    • Rose Lodge
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Otis
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Neotsu
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Lincoln City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Cutler City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Cutler City is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutler City
    • Kernville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Kernville is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kernville
    • Logsden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Gleneden Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Lincoln Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Siletz
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Depoe Bay
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
    • Keizer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Salem
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Chemawa
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Chemawa is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
    • Badger Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Badger Corner is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Badger Corner
    • Brooks
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Hayesville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Hayesville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
    • Labish Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Labish Village is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Labish Village
    • Four Corners
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Four Corners is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
    • Saint Paul
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Tillamook County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
    • Dolph ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Dolph is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph
    • Bellwood ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Bellwood is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
    • Blaine
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Blaine is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blaine
    • Cloverdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Hebo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Beaver
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Oretown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Oretown is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oretown
    • Neskowin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Pacific City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Fairview is located in Tillamook County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Tillamook
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Valley Junction, with the one closest to Valley Junction listed first.
    • Willamina
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Sheridan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Bellevue
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Bellevue is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
    • Amity
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Whiteson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
    • Eola Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
    • McMinnville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hopewell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Saint Joseph
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
    • Carlton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Lafayette
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Dayton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Valley Junction ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Valley Junction.

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 Valley Junction - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hussey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Indian Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mennonite Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Holmes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Willamina Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Blair Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Buck Hollow Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Harmony Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Cemetery
    • The Harmony Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Union Baptist Cemetery
    • Union Baptist Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2135225 <2>
  • Greencrest Memorial Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Masonic Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (97 more) ...
    • Pleasant Hill Pioneer Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Ball Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Hussey Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)

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.<4>

While we didn't find Valley Junction in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Valley Junction.

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

  • Grand Ronde
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Willamina
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Sheridan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Dolph ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Dolph is located in Tillamook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph
  • Ballston
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Ballston is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballston
  • Bellevue
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Bellevue is located in Yamhill County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
  • Falls City
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Dallas
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Smithfield
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Smithfield is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
  • Perrydale
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Perrydale is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrydale
  • McCoy
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • McCoy is located in Polk County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCoy
  • Meda
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Meda is located in Tillamook County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meda
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Rickreall
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Crowley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Crowley is located in Polk County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
    • Amity
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • 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>

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

Newspapers Published in Valley Junction ...

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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Valley Junction.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Valley Junction, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Valley Junction.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Valley Junction:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Valley Junction) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Valley Junction, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.