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 (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. 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 and 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.
Benton is located in Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw County: Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Benton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Benton:
- Washtenaw County (The home county of Benton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Bridgewater
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Saline
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pittsfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pittsfield is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
- Pittsfield has also been known as:
- Pittsfield Village
- Manchester
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Rowes Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Rowes Corner is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Corner
- Stony Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Stony Creek is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
- Ann Arbor
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sharon Hollow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Sharon Hollow is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Hollow
- Whittaker
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Whittaker is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittaker
- Barton Hills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Barton Hills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Delhi Mills
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Delhi Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi Mills
- Dexter
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hillsdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Somerset
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Somerset Center
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Somerset Center is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset Center
- Ingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Stockbridge
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fitchburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Fitchburg is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchburg
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Fishville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fishville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Norvell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Norvell is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norvell
- Grass Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Brooklyn
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Napoleon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Waterloo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Waterloo is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Trist
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Trist is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trist
- Leoni
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Leoni is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leoni
- Clarklake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Michigan Center
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Munith
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Lenawee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Macon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Macon is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Clinton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,287 people
- Britton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeway
- Tecumseh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tipton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Holloway
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Holloway is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holloway
- Deerfield
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wellsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Wellsville is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsville
- Adrian
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Onsted
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cambridge Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Cambridge Junction is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge Junction
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Chalkerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Chalkerville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalkerville
- Chalkerville has also been known as:
- Chalkers Landing
- Hamburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hell is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hell
- Hell has also been known as:
- Hi Land Lake
- Highland Lake
- Hiland Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hell <1>
- Whitmore Lake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kaiserville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kaiserville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaiserville
- Unadilla
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Unadilla is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unadilla
- Lakeland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pettysville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Pettysville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettysville
- Pinckney
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Anderson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Anderson is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Chubb's Corners ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Chubb's Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chubb's Corners
- Gregory
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Cone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cone is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cone
- Milan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Azalia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Azalia is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Azalia
- Oakville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Oakville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Dundee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Diann
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Diann is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diann
- Petersburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg Junction
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg Junction is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg Junction
- Federman ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Federman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Federman
- Maybee
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Scofield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Scofield is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield
- Grape
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grape is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grape
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- South Lyon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Northville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- New Hudson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Novi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Belleville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Canton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sheldon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sheldon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldon
- New Boston
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Willow
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Willow is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow
- Romulus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Plymouth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Westland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eloise
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eloise is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eloise
- Garden City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Inkster
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fulton County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Metamora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Whiteville ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Whiteville is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteville
- Leslie ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Leslie is located in Fulton County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leslie
- Lucas County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Berkey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Berkey is located in Lucas County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
- Centennial ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Centennial is located in Lucas County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial
- Fort Industry ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Fort Industry is located in Lucas County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Industry
- Sylvania
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Benton, see our County-by-County Page for Benton.
Cemeteries Near Benton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benton.
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 - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Benton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- St. James Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Benton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Oakhill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Macon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Shellenberger Road Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Gadd Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Judd Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Lodi Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi Cemetery
- The Lodi Cemetery has also been known as:
- Lodi Plains Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #952 <2>
- Bethel Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (423 more) ...
- St. Francis' Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgewater Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Old East Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Benton.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Bridgewater
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Macon
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Macon is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Saline
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clinton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,287 people
- River Raisin
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- River Raisin is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Raisin
- Newburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Newburg is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Cone
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cone is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cone
- Pittsfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Pittsfield is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
- Pittsfield has also been known as:
- Pittsfield Village
- Manchester
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Tecumseh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgeway
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeway
- Britton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Milan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Stony Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Stony Creek is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
- Tipton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Benton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Benton.
Newspapers Published in Benton ...
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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around Benton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Benton, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Benton.
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 websites either 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:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Washtenaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hillsdale County
- Ingham County
- Jackson County
- Lenawee County
- Livingston County
- Monroe County
- Oakland County
- Wayne County
- Fulton County
- Lucas 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, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Benton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |