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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 Baker (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 Baker. 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 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.

Baker is located in Clark County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Clark County: Columbia (OR), Multnomah (OR), Cowlitz & Skamania.

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

  • Clark County     (The home county of Baker)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baker, with the one closest to Baker listed first.
    • Mount Vista
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Mount Vista is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
    • Sara
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Sara is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
    • Pioneer
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Pioneer is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
    • Dollar's Corner
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Dollar's Corner is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dollar's Corner
    • Salmon Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Salmon Creek is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
    • Felida
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Felida is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
    • Meadow Glade
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Meadow Glade is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadow Glade
    • Cherry Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cherry Grove is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
    • King Corner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • King Corner is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King Corner
    • Lake Shore
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Lake Shore is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
    • Battle Ground
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Barberton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Barberton is also located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
  • Cowlitz County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baker, with the one closest to Baker listed first.
    • Ariel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Kalama
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Carrolls
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Rose Valley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Rose Valley is located in Cowlitz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Valley
    • Cougar
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kelso
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Kelso is located in Cowlitz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,438 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kelso <1>
    • Longview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Skamania County
    • Cruzatt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Cruzatt is located in Skamania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruzatt
  • Clackamas County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baker, with the one closest to Baker listed first.
    • Happy Valley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Lake Oswego
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Oak Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Oatfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Oatfield is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
    • Sunnyside
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Sunnyside is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Christie was located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
    • Clackamas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Johnson City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Johnson City is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 627 people
    • Marylhurst
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Damascus
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Damascus is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
      • Estimated population in 2017: 11,155 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Damascus <1>
    • Gladstone
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Gladstone is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gladstone
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,418 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gladstone <1>
    • Jennings Lodge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
  • Columbia County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baker, with the one closest to Baker listed first.
    • Saint Helens
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Warren
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Scappoose
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Columbia City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Deer Island
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Goble
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Goble is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
    • Reuben
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Reuben is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
    • Prescott
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Prescott is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
    • Beaver Springs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Beaver Springs is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
    • Pittsburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Pittsburg is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsburg
    • Vernonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Vernonia is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,295 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vernonia <1>
    • Rainier
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Rainier is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rainier
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,021 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rainier <1>
  • Multnomah County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baker, with the one closest to Baker listed first.
    • Vanport City ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Vanport City was located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
    • Burlington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Burlington is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
    • Albina
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
    • Maywood Park
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Laurelhurst
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Montavilla
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Portland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Portland is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 656,751 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Portland <1>
    • Russellville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Hazelwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Fairview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairview is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,450 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairview <1>
    • Rockwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Rockwood is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockwood
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Fulton was located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
  • Washington County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Baker, with the one closest to Baker listed first.
    • Bethany
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethany is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
    • Cedar Mill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Hills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills
    • Rockcreek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Rockcreek is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockcreek
    • West Union
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • West Union is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
    • Cedar Hills
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • West Slope
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • West Slope is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
    • Marlene Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlene Village is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
    • Raleigh Hills
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Raleigh Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh Hills
    • North Plains
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Beaverton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Beaverton is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 98,957 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beaverton <1>
    • Aloha
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Baker ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Baker.

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 Baker - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Salmon Creek Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bethel Evangelical Methodist Church Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pioneer Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Brush Prairie Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Elim Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Dublin Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lewisville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (157 more) ...

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 Baker in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Baker.

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

  • Sara
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Sara is also located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
  • Pioneer
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Pioneer is also located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
  • Felida
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Felida is also located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
  • Brush Prairie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Battle Ground
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Ridgefield
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Vancouver
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Lewisville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewisville is also located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
  • La Center
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Hockinson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Hockinson is also located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hockinson
  • Proebstel
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Proebstel is also located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Proebstel
  • Saint Helens
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Warren
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Scappoose
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Holbrook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Holbrook is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holbrook

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

Newspapers Published in Baker ...

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 207 newspapers that have been published in the area around Baker.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Baker, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Baker.

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 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 Baker:

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