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 Berrien Springs (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 Berrien Springs. 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 Berrien Springs ...
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.
- A typical abbreviation for Berrien Springs: Berrien Spgs. (or less commonly used: Berrien Spngs. or Berrien Sprngs.)
- In past government published Postal Guides, Berrien Springs was referred to as Berrien Springs Courthouse.
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 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.
Berrien Springs 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 Berrien Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Berrien Springs:
- Berrien County (The home county of Berrien Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Berrien Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Eau Claire
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hartman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Hinchman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Shanghai Corners
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Sodus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Naomi
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Baroda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Snow
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Snow is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow
- Scottdale
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Scottdale is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottdale
- Buchanan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Glendora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Hills Corners
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hills Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Corners
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Sumnerville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- Pokagon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Dowagiac
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- La Grange
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Edwardsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cassopolis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Brownsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Penn
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Vandalia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Wakelee
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jones
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Marcellus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Keeler
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Hartford
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Fish Corners
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
- Decatur
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lawrence
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Covert
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Bangor
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lawton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Paw Paw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Breedsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Elkhart
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Jamestown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Dunlap
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- LaPorte County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Hesston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Rolling Prairie
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Smith
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Michiana Shores
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Long Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- La Porte
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stillwell
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stillwell is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Georgetown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Roseland
(16 miles [25.7 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
(17 miles [27.4 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
- Granger
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Zeigler
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- New Carlisle
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- South Bend
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Mishawaka
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crumstown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- Gulivoire Park
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Osceola
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
- Nutwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- North Liberty
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Berrien Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Berrien Springs.
Cemeteries Near Berrien Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Berrien Springs.
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 Berrien Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Berrien Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Rose Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Long Lake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Burke Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Berrien Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- South Maple Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eau Claire Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Colvin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Salem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Sherwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (226 more) ...
- Morris Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Ferry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Feather Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Berrien Springs had a population of 745 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Berrien Springs had a population of 1,718 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Berrien Springs, with the one closest to Berrien Springs listed first.
- Berrien Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Eau Claire
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Hartman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Hinchman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Sodus
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sodus is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sodus
- Naomi
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Hollywood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hollywood is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Glendora
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Buchanan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Pokagon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Derby
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Niles
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Spinks Corners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Spinks Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spinks Corners
- Vineland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Vineland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Berrien Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Berrien Springs.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Berrien Springs ...
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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around Berrien Springs.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Berrien Springs. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Berrien Springs and those printed in the larger area surrounding Berrien Springs.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 23 miles [37 km]<3> of Berrien Springs.
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 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 Berrien Springs:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Berrien County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart 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> | 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 Berrien Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Berrien Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |