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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 Orem (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 Orem. 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.

A Few Details for Orem ...

While it's still very early in our research, we found that:

  • The naming (or the toponymy) of Orem: Named after Walter C. Orem (1873-1951), President of the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad.
  • Orem was settled in 1877.
  • It was incorporated on May 5, 1919.

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 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.

Orem is located in Utah County.

To see how the shape of Utah's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Utah County: Carbon, Duchesne, Juab, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Tooele & Wasatch.

Below are the counties that are near Orem. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Orem:

  • Utah County     (The home county of Orem)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orem, with the one closest to Orem listed first.
    • Olmstead
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Olmstead. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmstead
      • Olmstead is located in Utah County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Olmstead
      • From Orem to Olmstead
    • Bunker
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Lakeview
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Geneva ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Geneva. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
      • Geneva is located in Utah County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Geneva
      • From Orem to Geneva
    • Christmas City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Christmas City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmas City
      • Christmas City is located in Utah County
    • Lindon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lindon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindon
      • Lindon is located in Utah County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,462 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lindon <3>
    • Vineyard
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vineyard have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineyard
      • Vineyard is located in Utah County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,570 people
    • Provo
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Grove
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Vivian Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • American Fork
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Ironton ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ironton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
      • Ironton is located in Utah County
    • Aspen Grove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Juab County
  • Salt Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orem, with the one closest to Orem listed first.
    • Canyon Oak Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Canyon Oak Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canyon Oak Village
      • Canyon Oak Village is located in Salt Lake County
    • Willow Fort ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Willow Fort. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Fort
      • Willow Fort is located in Salt Lake County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Willow Fort
      • From Orem to Willow Fort
    • Bluffdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Draper
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Summerhill Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Summerhill Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerhill Village
      • Summerhill Village is located in Salt Lake County
    • Albion Basin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Dimple Dell Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dimple Dell Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dimple Dell Village
      • Dimple Dell Village is located in Salt Lake County
    • Snowbird
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Cobblestone Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cobblestone Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobblestone Village
      • Cobblestone Village is located in Salt Lake County
    • Alta Canyon Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Alta Canyon Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alta Canyon Village
      • Alta Canyon Village is located in Salt Lake County
    • Alta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Emmaville ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Raintree Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Raintree Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raintree Village
      • Raintree Village is located in Salt Lake County
  • Summit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orem, with the one closest to Orem listed first.
    • Park City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Snyderville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • South Snyderville Basin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Francis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Francis have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francis
      • Francis is located in Summit County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,611 people
  • Tooele County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orem, with the one closest to Orem listed first.
    • Sunshine ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sunshine. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
      • Sunshine is located in Tooele County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sunshine
      • From Orem to Sunshine
    • Mercur ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Ophir
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Topliff ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • West Dip ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for West Dip. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Dip
      • West Dip is located in Tooele County
      • West Dip has also been known as:
      • West Mercur
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to West Dip
      • From Orem to West Dip
  • Wasatch County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Orem, with the one closest to Orem listed first.
    • Wallsburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Charleston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Charleston have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charleston
      • Charleston is located in Wasatch County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 496 people
    • Daniel
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Midway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Midway have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
      • Midway is located in Wasatch County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,465 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Midway <3>
    • Mound City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Heber City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Independence
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Interlaken
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jordanelle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Jordanelle. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordanelle
      • Jordanelle is located in Wasatch County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Jordanelle
      • From Orem to Jordanelle
    • Cranmer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Cranmer. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cranmer
      • Cranmer is located in Wasatch County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Cranmer
      • From Orem to Cranmer
    • Hailstone ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hailstone. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hailstone
      • Hailstone is located in Wasatch County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hailstone
      • From Orem to Hailstone
    • Timber Lakes
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Timber Lakes have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Lakes
      • Timber Lakes is located in Wasatch County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Timber Lakes <3>
    • Keetley ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Keetley. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keetley
      • Keetley is located in Wasatch County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Keetley
      • From Orem to Keetley

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

Cemeteries Near Orem ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Orem.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Orem, with the one closest to Orem 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.<5>

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

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

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Orem ...

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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Orem.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Orem. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Orem and those printed in the larger area surrounding Orem.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<6> of Orem.

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 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 Orem:

The official website for Orem: www.orem.org/

The official website for Utah County: www.co.utah.ut.us/

The official website for State of Utah: https://www.utah.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>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.
<5>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 Orem, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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- Orem) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Orem. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 40.2972, Longitude: -111.6950    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025