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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 Vancouver Junction (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 Vancouver Junction. 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 Vancouver Junction ...

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 Vancouver Junction: Vancouver Jct. (or less commonly used: Vancouver Jctn.)

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 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.

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

  • Clark County     (The home county of Vancouver Junction)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Lake Shore
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Lake Shore is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore
    • Hazel Dell
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Felida
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Felida is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
    • Minnehaha
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Minnehaha is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minnehaha
    • Salmon Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Salmon Creek is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon Creek
    • Vancouver
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Barberton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Barberton is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barberton
    • Walnut Grove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
    • Mount Vista
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Vista is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Vista
    • Five Corners
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Five Corners is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Corners
    • Homan
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Homan is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homan
    • Sara
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Sara is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
    • Brush Prairie
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Cowlitz County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Ariel
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Kalama
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Carrolls
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Rose Valley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Rose Valley is located in Cowlitz County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose Valley
  • Skamania County
    • Cruzatt
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Cruzatt is located in Skamania County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cruzatt
  • Clackamas County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Christie ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Christie is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christie
    • Lake Oswego
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Oak Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Oatfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Oatfield is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oatfield
    • Happy Valley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Clackamas
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Johnson City
      (19 miles [30.6 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
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Sunnyside
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunnyside is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
    • Gladstone
      (20 miles [32.2 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
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Jennings Lodge is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings Lodge
    • Rivergrove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Rivergrove is located in Clackamas County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rivergrove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 318 people
    • Damascus
      (20 miles [32.2 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>
  • Columbia County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Scappoose
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Warren
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Helens
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Columbia City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Deer Island
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Goble
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Goble is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goble
    • Reuben
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Reuben is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reuben
    • Pittsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 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 northwest)
      • 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>
    • Prescott
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Prescott is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prescott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 63 people
    • Beaver Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Beaver Springs is located in Columbia County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Springs
  • Marion County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Butteville Station ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Butteville Station is located in Marion County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville Station
    • Butteville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Butteville is located in Marion County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butteville
  • Multnomah County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Vanport City ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Vanport City is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanport City
    • Burlington
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Burlington is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
    • Albina
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Albina is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
    • Laurelhurst
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Laurelhurst is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laurelhurst
    • Portland
      (10 miles [16.1 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>
    • Maywood Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Montavilla
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Montavilla is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montavilla
    • Russellville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Russellville is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
    • Hillsdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Hillsdale is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsdale
    • Hazelwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Hazelwood is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelwood
    • Fulton ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Fulton is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
    • Woodstock
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Woodstock is located in Multnomah County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
    • Fairview
      (15 miles [24.1 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>
  • Washington County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Bethany
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethany is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
    • Cedar Mill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Oak Hills
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hills
    • West Slope
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • West Slope is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Slope
    • Cedar Hills
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Marlene Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Marlene Village is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlene Village
    • Rockcreek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Rockcreek is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockcreek
    • West Union
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • West Union is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Union
    • Raleigh Hills
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Raleigh Hills is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raleigh Hills
    • Beaverton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Progress
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Progress is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Progress
    • Aloha
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • North Plains
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Yamhill County (OR)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction listed first.
    • Newberg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Newberg is located in Yamhill County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newberg
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 23,982 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newberg <1>
    • Cove Orchard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Cove Orchard is located in Yamhill County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cove Orchard

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

Cemeteries Near Vancouver Junction ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vancouver Junction.

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 Vancouver Junction - one of the links might be able to help.

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

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vancouver Junction, with the one closest to Vancouver Junction 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.<4>

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

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

  • Felida
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Felida is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felida
  • Vancouver
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sara
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Sara is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sara
  • Saint Johns
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Saint Johns is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Johns
  • Linnton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Linnton is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linnton
  • University Park
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • University Park is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for University Park
  • Brush Prairie
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Holbrook
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Holbrook is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holbrook
  • Ridgefield
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Albina
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Albina is located in Multnomah County (OR)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albina
  • Battle Ground
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Pioneer
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Pioneer is located in Clark County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bethany
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethany is located in Washington County (OR)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethany
    • Portland
      (10 miles [16.1 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>
    • Fisher
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Fisher is located in Clark County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher

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

Newspapers Published in Vancouver Junction ...

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 240 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vancouver Junction.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vancouver Junction, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vancouver Junction.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Vancouver Junction:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Vancouver Junction) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Vancouver Junction, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.