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 Alma (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 Alma. 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 doctors 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.
Alma is located in Gratiot County.
To see how the shape of Michigan's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Gratiot County: Clinton, Ionia, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw & Shiawassee.
Below are the counties that are near Alma. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alma:
- Gratiot County (The home county of Alma)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Saint Louis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Elwell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ithaca
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Breckenridge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Sumner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Elm Hall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Riverdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- North Star
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Wheeler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- North Wheeler
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- North Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wheeler
- Edgewood
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Clare County
- Clare
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Maple Rapids
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
- Eureka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Elsie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Duplain
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Duplain is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplain
- Fowler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Saint Johns
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Shepardsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Shepardsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Ovid
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Hubbardston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Matherton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Matherton is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherton
- Palo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Palo is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
- Pewamo
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Shiloh
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Muir
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Woods Corners
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Summerton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Summerton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
- Coe
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Coe is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
- Shepherd
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Crawford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Strickland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Alembic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Winn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Winn is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
- Mount Pleasant
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Jordan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Rosebush
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Beal City
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Blanchard
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Mecosta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Millbrook
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Remus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Halls Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Redstone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Porter
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Ryan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ryan is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Oil City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Alamando
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- North Bradley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Sanford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Averill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Averill is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
- Coleman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Midland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hope
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Vestaburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
- Crystal
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Carson City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
- Butternut
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Butternut is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut
- Edmore
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- McBride
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Vickeryville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
- Wyman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Wyman is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Stanton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sheridan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Entrican
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Entrican is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Lakefield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Lakefield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield
- Merrill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Iva
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Iva is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
- Hemlock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Nelson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Nelson is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Fenmore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fenmore is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
- Brant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Orr
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Orr is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orr
- Chapin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Chapin is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Saint Charles
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Garfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Garfield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garfield
- Dice
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Dice is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
- Shiawassee County
- Henderson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alma, see our County-by-County Page for Alma.
Cemeteries Near Alma ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alma.
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 Alma - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alma covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Riverside Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Bailey Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wright Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Beebe Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Bethany Indian Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Chapel Gardens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pritchard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ithaca Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Coe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Brady Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (207 more) ...
- Seville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Roosa Farm Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Irishtown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Alma had a population of 1,655 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Alma had a population of 8,807 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alma, with the one closest to Alma listed first.
- Saint Louis
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hill
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Ithaca
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beebe
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Beebe is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beebe
- Summerton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Summerton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
- Sumner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Newark
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Newark is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Breckenridge
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pleasant Valley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Valley
- Riverdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Elm Hall
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Shepherd
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- New Haven Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Haven Center is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven Center
- North Star
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Rathbone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Rathbone is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbone
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alma. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alma.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Alma ...
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 209 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alma.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Alma. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Alma and those printed in the larger area surrounding Alma.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Alma.
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 Alma:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Gratiot County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clare County
- Clinton County
- Ionia County
- Isabella County
- Mecosta County
- Midland County
- Montcalm County
- Saginaw County
- Shiawassee County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
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 Alma, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Alma) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |