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 West Salem (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 West Salem. 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 West Salem ...
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 West Salem: W. Salem
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Salem. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Salem.
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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.
West Salem 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 West Salem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Salem:
- Polk County (The home county of West Salem)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Salemtowne
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Salemtowne is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salemtowne
- Eola
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Eola is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lincoln is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Zena
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Zena is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
- Crowley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Crowley is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
- Independence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rickreall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Monmouth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Smithfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Smithfield is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithfield
- Dolph Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Dolph Corner is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dolph Corner
- Buena Vista
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Buena Vista is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Dallas
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Ellendale
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Ellendale is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
- Benton County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Wellsdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wellsdale is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsdale
- Adair Village
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Adair Village is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adair Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 872 people
- North Albany
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- North Albany is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Albany
- Lewisburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lewisburg is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
- Kings Valley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Corvallis
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Wren
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wren is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Clackamas County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Needy ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Needy is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needy
- Wilhoit
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wilhoit is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhoit
- Molalla
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Barlow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Barlow is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barlow
- Population from the 2020 Census: 147 people
- Macksburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Macksburg is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macksburg
- Canby
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Glen Avon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Glen Avon is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Avon
- Liberal
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Liberal is located in Clackamas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberal
- Mulino
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wilsonville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Linn County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Millersburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Millersburg is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millersburg
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,757 people
- West Scio
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- West Scio is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Scio
- Scio
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Draperville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Draperville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Draperville
- Albany
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Crabtree
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Jordan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jordan is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Lyons
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Irvinville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Irvinville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irvinville
- Tangent
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lebanon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lacomb
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lacomb is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacomb
- Oakville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oakville is located in Linn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Marion County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Salem
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Badger Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Badger Corner is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Badger Corner
- Four Corners
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Four Corners is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Four Corners
- Keizer
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Chemawa
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Chemawa is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
- Hayesville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Hayesville is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayesville
- Labish Village
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Labish Village is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Labish Village
- Macleay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Macleay is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macleay
- Turner
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Brooks
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Aumsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marion
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Downs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Downs is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Downs
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Middleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Middleton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Sherwood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Yamhill County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Hopewell
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Amity
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Eola Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Eola Village is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola Village
- Whiteson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Whiteson is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteson
- Bellevue
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bellevue is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Dayton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- McMinnville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sheridan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lafayette
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Saint Joseph
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Saint Joseph is located in Yamhill County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Joseph
- Willamina
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dundee
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Carlton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Salem, see our County-by-County Page for West Salem.
Cemeteries Near West Salem ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Salem.
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 West Salem - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Salem covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- City View Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Salem Pioneer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Belcrest Memorial Park
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- St. Barbara Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Lee Mission Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Hayesville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rest Lawn Memory Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Chemawa Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Claggett Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Halls Ferry Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jory Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (206 more) ...
- Rosedale Friends Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Herron Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Penitentiary Annex Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
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 West Salem in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Salem.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Salem, with the one closest to West Salem listed first.
- Salem
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Eola
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Eola is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
- Dencer ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dencer is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dencer
- Lincoln
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lincoln is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln
- Chemawa
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Chemawa is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chemawa
- Zena
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Zena is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zena
- Crowley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Crowley is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crowley
- Derry
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Derry is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derry
- Independence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Turner
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Macleay
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Macleay is located in Marion County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macleay
- Rickreall
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Cochrane ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cochrane is located in Polk County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
- Brooks
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Monmouth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Salem. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Salem.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of West Salem ...
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 167 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Salem.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of West Salem. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of West Salem and those printed in the larger area surrounding West Salem.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4> of West Salem.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful 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 West Salem:
- Websites specific to Oregon
- Pages specific to Polk County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Benton County
- Clackamas County
- Linn County
- Marion County
- Washington County
- Yamhill 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 West Salem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- West Salem) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |