RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Washington >> Clark County >> Pioneer >> Genealogy HelperIndex...










Learn About
The Commemorative
Quarter for
Washington

The Commemorative Quarter for Washington





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 Pioneer (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 Pioneer. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.

Pioneer is located in Clark County.

To see how the shape of Washington's counties 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 Pioneer. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pioneer:

  • Clark County     (The home county of Pioneer)
  • Cowlitz County
  • Skamania County
  • Clackamas County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
    • Happy Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Happy Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Happy Valley
      • Happy Valley is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,781 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Happy Valley <1>
    • Lake Oswego
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Oswego have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Oswego
      • Lake Oswego is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 39,821 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lake Oswego <1>
    • Oak Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
      • Oak Grove is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oak Grove <1>
    • Oatfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oatfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
      • Oatfield is located in Clackamas County (OR)
    • Sunnyside
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sunnyside have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
      • Sunnyside is located in Clackamas County (OR)
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Clackamas
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clackamas have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clackamas
      • Clackamas is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clackamas <1>
    • Damascus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Damascus have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
      • Damascus is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Estimated population in 2017: 11,155 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Damascus <1>
    • Johnson City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Johnson City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson City
      • Johnson City is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 627 people
    • Marylhurst
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Carver
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Boring
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Columbia County (OR)
  • Multnomah County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
    • Vanport City ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Burlington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Maywood Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Maywood Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maywood Park
      • Maywood Park is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 852 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Maywood Park <1>
    • Laurelhurst
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Montavilla
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Portland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Russellville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Russellville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Russellville
      • From Pioneer to Russellville
    • Hazelwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hazelwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Fairview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairview have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
      • Fairview is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,450 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairview <1>
    • Rockwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Wood Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wood Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wood Village
      • Wood Village is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,081 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wood Village <1>
    • Gresham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gresham have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
      • Gresham is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 110,031 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gresham <1>
  • Washington County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer listed first.
    • Bethany
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Hills
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills
      • Oak Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
    • Rockcreek
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rockcreek have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockcreek
      • Rockcreek is located in Washington County (OR)
    • West Union
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for West Union. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
      • West Union is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to West Union
      • From Pioneer to West Union
    • Cedar Mill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Marlene Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marlene Village have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
      • Marlene Village is located in Washington County (OR)
    • Cedar Hills
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cedar Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Hills
      • Cedar Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cedar Hills <1>
    • West Slope
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Slope have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
      • West Slope is located in Washington County (OR)
    • Mountaindale
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mountaindale. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountaindale
      • Mountaindale is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mountaindale
      • From Pioneer to Mountaindale
    • North Plains
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Plains have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Plains
      • North Plains is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,194 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for North Plains <1>
    • Raleigh Hills
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Aloha
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Aloha have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aloha
      • Aloha is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Aloha <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Pioneer ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pioneer.

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 Pioneer covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pioneer, with the one closest to Pioneer 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.<6>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Pioneer had a population of 18 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • La Center
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Ridgefield
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Sara
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sara. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
    • Sara is located in Clark County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Sara
    • From Pioneer to Sara
  • Battle Ground
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Lewisville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Lewisville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisville
    • Lewisville is located in Clark County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Lewisville
    • From Pioneer to Lewisville
  • Felida
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Felida have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
    • Felida is located in Clark County
  • Brush Prairie
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Woodland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Hayes
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hayes have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hayes
    • Hayes is located in Clark County
  • Saint Helens
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Helens have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Helens
    • Saint Helens is located in Columbia County (OR)
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,071 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Helens <1>
  • Hockinson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hockinson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hockinson
    • Hockinson is located in Clark County
  • Etna
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Etna. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
    • Etna is located in Clark County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Etna
    • From Pioneer to Etna
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Pioneer ...

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 62 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pioneer.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pioneer, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Pioneer.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Pioneer:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Pioneer. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Clark County: www.co.clark.wa.us/

The official website for State of Washington: https://wa.gov/

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 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>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.
<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>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 from Point A (ie- Pioneer) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Pioneer. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 45.8123, Longitude: -122.6616    
<6>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 Pioneer, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

Copyright 2025
All Rights Reserved

Thank you for visiting our website.

In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

If you've found an error or have additional information that you would like to share, please don't hesitate to write: Click here to contact us.

This page was last modified/updated: 29 Apr 2025