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 Bethany Beach (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 Bethany Beach. 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 Bethany Beach ...
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 Bethany Beach: Bethany Bch.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Bethany Beach. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Bethany Beach.
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 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.
Bethany Beach 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 Bethany Beach. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethany Beach:
- Berrien County (The home county of Bethany Beach)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- Shorewood - Tower Hills - Harbert
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hazelhurst
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Hazelhurst is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazelhurst
- Sawyer
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Harbert
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- New Troy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Lakeside
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeside is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Bridgman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Pier
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Glendora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Avery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avery is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Three Oaks
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Baroda
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- Sumnerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- Pokagon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Dowagiac
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Edwardsburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- La Grange
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- Keeler
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Fish Corners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
- LaPorte County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- Hesston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Smith
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Michiana Shores
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Rolling Prairie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Long Beach
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Pottawattamie Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pottawattamie Park is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pottawattamie Park
- Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
- Trail Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Trail Creek is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trail Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,985 people
- Michigan City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Waterford
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Waterford is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- La Porte
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Door Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Door Village is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Door Village
- Stillwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Stillwell is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- Porter County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- Town-of-Pines
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Town-of-Pines is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Town-of-Pines
- Population from the 2020 Census: 688 people
- Beverly Shores
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Dune Acres
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dune Acres is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dune Acres
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Chesterton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Porter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tratebas Mill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tratebas Mill is located in Porter County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tratebas Mill
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- New Carlisle
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Zeigler
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Crumstown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- Georgetown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Roseland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- Indian Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- South Bend
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Liberty
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Nutwood
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Granger
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Gulivoire Park
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Mishawaka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethany Beach, see our County-by-County Page for Bethany Beach.
Cemeteries Near Bethany Beach ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethany Beach.
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 Bethany Beach - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethany Beach covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- Riverside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- New Troy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- California School Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bridgman Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Greenwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Glendora Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Graceland Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Lawn Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Basswood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Germinder & Ward Graves
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Boyle Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (167 more) ...
- Hinman Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Ruggles Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Heckman Memorial Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
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 Bethany Beach in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethany Beach.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethany Beach, with the one closest to Bethany Beach listed first.
- Harbert
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Sawyer
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lakeside
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeside is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- New Troy
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bridgman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Union Pier
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Three Oaks
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Avery is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avery
- Glendora
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Livingston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Livingston is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livingston
- Galien
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Galien is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galien
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- New Buffalo
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Hesston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Stevensville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dayton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethany Beach. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethany Beach.
Newspapers Published in Bethany Beach ...
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 Bethany Beach.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethany Beach, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethany Beach.
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 Bethany Beach:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Berrien County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cass County
- Van Buren County
- LaPorte County
- Porter 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 Bethany Beach, 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- Bethany Beach) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |