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 Benton Center (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 Benton Center. 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 Benton Center ...
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 Benton Center: Benton Ctr. (or less commonly used: Benton Cen., Benton Cent. or Benton Cntr.)
You might see Benton Centre instead of Benton Center.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Benton Center. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Benton Center.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 northeast 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 north.
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 north 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.
Benton Center is located in Berrien 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 Berrien County: LaPorte (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Cass & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Benton Center. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Benton Center:
- Berrien County (The home county of Benton Center)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Center, with the one closest to Benton Center listed first.
- Twelve Corners
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Twelve Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Corners
- Benton Heights
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Benton Heights is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Heights
- Mizpah Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mizpah Park is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mizpah Park
- Benton Harbor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Riverside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Riverside is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Fair Plain
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fair Plain is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Plain
- Coloma
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sodus
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Saint Joseph
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Michigan Beach
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Lake Michigan Beach is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Michigan Beach
- Shanghai Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Scottdale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Scottdale is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottdale
- Watervliet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Center, with the one closest to Benton Center listed first.
- South Haven Highlands
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Miami Park
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Miami Park is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miami Park
- Miami Park has also been known as:
- Miami Park Beach
- Miomi Park Beach
- Mount Pleasant
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Cedar Bluff
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Hawkhead
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Hawkhead is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkhead
- Glenn Haven Shores
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Glenn Haven Shores is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Haven Shores
- Glenn Haven Shores has also been known as:
- Hollywood
- Leisure
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Leisure is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure
- Leisure has also been known as:
- East Casco
- Glenn Shores
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Glenn Shores is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenn Shores
- Glenn Shores has also been known as:
- Glenn Stores
- Glenn
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Spring Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Spring Grove is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Grove
- Pullman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Center, with the one closest to Benton Center listed first.
- Dowagiac
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pokagon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Sumnerville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- La Grange
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Cassopolis
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Penn
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Wakelee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Brownsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Edwardsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Marcellus
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Center, with the one closest to Benton Center listed first.
- Keeler
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Fish Corners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
- Hartford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Covert
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrence
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Bangor
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Decatur
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- South Haven
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Breedsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Kibbie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Kibbie is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
- Lacota
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lacota is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacota
- Bloomingdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- LaPorte County (IN)
- Hesston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton Center, with the one closest to Benton Center listed first.
- Georgetown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Roseland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- Indian Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- New Carlisle
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Zeigler
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Granger
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Benton Center, see our County-by-County Page for Benton Center.
Cemeteries Near Benton Center ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benton Center.
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 Benton Center - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Benton Center covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Benton Center, with the one closest to Benton Center listed first.
- Millburg Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- B'nai Sholom Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pearl Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Crystal Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Boyer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Morton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Bethel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Kniebes Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Curtis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Pennyan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (192 more) ...
- Byers Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Zion EUB Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- St. Pauls UCC Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Benton Center in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Benton Center.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Benton Center, with the one closest to Benton Center listed first.
- Twelve Corners
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Twelve Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Corners
- Millburg
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Millburg is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millburg
- Spinks Corners
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Spinks Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spinks Corners
- Benton Harbor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Riverside
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Riverside is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside
- Saint Joseph
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Sodus
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Coloma
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Vineland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Vineland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Watervliet
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glenlord
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Glenlord is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenlord
- Glenlord has also been known as:
- Glen Lord
- Hollywood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hollywood is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Hartman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Naomi
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Derby
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Derby is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Benton Center. See our List of 1890's Communities around Benton Center.
Newspapers Published in Benton Center ...
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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Benton Center.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Benton Center, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Benton Center.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Benton Center:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Berrien County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Cass County
- Van Buren County
- LaPorte County
- Saint Joseph 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 Benton Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Benton Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |