RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Oregon >> Multnomah County >> Villa Ridge >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Villa Ridge (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 Villa Ridge. 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 Villa Ridge ...

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 Villa Ridge: Villa Rdg. (or less commonly used: Villa Rdge. or Villa Ridg.)

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

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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

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 north 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.

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

  • Multnomah County     (The home county of Villa Ridge)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge listed first.
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Hillsdale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Milwaukie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Portland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Woodstock
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Albina
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
    • Laurelhurst
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Montavilla
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Russellville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Vanport City ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Vanport City is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
    • Hazelwood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Maywood Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Rockwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Rockwood is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
  • Clackamas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge listed first.
    • Lake Oswego
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Rivergrove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
    • Tualatin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Oak Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Christie is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
    • Marylhurst
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Stafford
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Stafford is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
    • Oatfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Oatfield is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
    • Jennings Lodge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
    • West Linn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Willamette
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Willamette is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willamette
    • Clackamas
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Canemah
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Canemah is located in Clackamas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canemah
  • Columbia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge listed first.
    • Scappoose
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Warren
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Saint Helens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge listed first.
    • Butteville Station ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Butteville Station is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
    • Butteville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Butteville is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
    • Aurora
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Donald
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Champoeg ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Champoeg is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Champoeg
    • Hubbard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Saint Paul
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodburn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • McKee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • McKee is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKee
    • Gervais
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Mount Angel
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Downs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Downs is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downs
    • Scotts Mills
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge listed first.
    • Metzger
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Metzger is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metzger
    • Raleigh Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Raleigh Hills is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh Hills
    • Progress
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Progress is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
    • Tigard
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Durham
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • West Slope
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • West Slope is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
    • Beaverton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • King City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Hills
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cedar Mill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Marlene Village
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Marlene Village is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
    • Kinton ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Kinton is located in Washington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinton
    • Aloha
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Yamhill County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge listed first.
    • Newberg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dundee
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cove Orchard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard
    • Dayton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Lafayette
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Yamhill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Carlton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Joseph
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
    • Eola Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
    • McMinnville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hopewell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Whiteson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
  • Clark County (WA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge listed first.
    • Vancouver
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Minnehaha
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Minnehaha is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
    • Cascade Park East
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cascade Park West
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cascade Park West is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade Park West
    • Fisher
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Fisher is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
    • Hazel Dell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Lake Shore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Lake Shore is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
    • Walnut Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
    • Barberton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Barberton is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
    • Felida
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Felida is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
    • Five Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Five Corners is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
    • Mill Plain
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Mill Plain is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Plain
    • Camas
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Camas is located in Clark County (WA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,981 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Camas <1>
  • Skamania County (WA)
    • Cruzatt
      (30 miles [48.3 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 Villa Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Villa Ridge.

Cemeteries Near Villa Ridge ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Villa Ridge.

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 Villa Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Villa Ridge, with the one closest to Villa Ridge 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 Villa Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Villa Ridge.

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

  • West Portland
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • West Portland is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Portland
  • Garden Home
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Garden Home is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Home
  • Progress
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Progress is located in Washington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
  • Fulton ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Fulton is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
  • Hillsdale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
  • Bertha ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bertha is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertha
  • Tualatin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Sellwood
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Sellwood is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sellwood
  • South Portland ‑ Historic
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • South Portland is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Portland
  • Sylvan
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Sylvan is located in Multnomah County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
  • Beaverton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Stafford
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Stafford is located in Clackamas County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Milwaukie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Woodstock
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Cedar Mill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Villa Ridge ...

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 221 newspapers that have been published in the area around Villa Ridge.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Villa Ridge, there are papers which were published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Villa Ridge.

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 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 Villa Ridge:

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 Villa Ridge, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Villa Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.