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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 Big Rapids (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 Big Rapids. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Big Rapids is located in Mecosta County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Mecosta County: Clare, Isabella, Lake, Montcalm, Newaygo & Osceola.

Below are the counties that are near Big Rapids. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Big Rapids:

  • Mecosta County     (The home county of Big Rapids)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.
    • Paris
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Rodney
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rodney have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
      • Rodney is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rodney <1>
    • Stanwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Chippewa Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Pogy
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pogy have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pogy
      • Pogy is located in Mecosta County
    • Canadian Lakes
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
    • Morley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
      • Morley is located in Mecosta County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 495 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morley <1>
    • Mecosta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mecosta have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecosta
      • Mecosta is located in Mecosta County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mecosta <1>
    • Rustford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rustford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
    • Barryton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barryton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barryton
      • Barryton is located in Mecosta County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 357 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Barryton <1>
    • Halls Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
    • Remus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Clare County
    • Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
      • Lake is located in Clare County
      • Former name for Lake:
      • Lake Station
  • Isabella County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.
    • Sherman City ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
      • Sherman City is located in Isabella County
    • Blanchard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blanchard have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
      • Blanchard is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Blanchard <1>
    • Brinton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
      • Brinton is located in Isabella County
    • Lake Isabella
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
      • Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
      • Lake Isabella has also been known as:
      • Lake Isabella village
    • Weidman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Weidman have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weidman
      • Weidman is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weidman <1>
    • Beal City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beal City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
      • Beal City is located in Isabella County
  • Kent County
    • Sand Lake
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sand Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Lake
      • Sand Lake is located in Kent County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 537 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sand Lake <1>
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.
    • Chase
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Nirvana
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nirvana
      • Nirvana is located in Lake County
    • Idlewild
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewild
      • Idlewild is located in Lake County
    • Marlborough
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marlborough have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
      • Marlborough is located in Lake County
    • Baldwin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Luther
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Bristol
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bristol
      • Bristol is located in Lake County
    • Peacock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peacock
      • Peacock is located in Lake County
  • Mason County
    • Carr
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carr
      • Carr is located in Mason County
      • Carr has also been known as:
      • Carr Settlement
      • McCumber Settlement
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.
    • Amble
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
    • Lakeview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Howard City
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Howard City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard City
      • Howard City is located in Montcalm County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,819 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Howard City <1>
    • Coral
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Six Lakes
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Pierson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pierson have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierson
      • Pierson is located in Montcalm County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 174 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pierson <1>
    • Trufant
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Trufant have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trufant
      • Trufant is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Trufant <1>
    • Wyman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
      • Wyman is located in Montcalm County
    • Langston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Langston have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
    • Edmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.
    • Hawkins
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins
      • Hawkins is located in Newaygo County
    • Brohman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brohman
      • Brohman is located in Newaygo County
      • Former names for Brohman:
      • Dingman
      • Otia
    • Ramona
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ramona have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
      • Ramona is located in Newaygo County
    • White Cloud
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bitely
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Woodland Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Park
      • Woodland Park is located in Newaygo County
    • Riverview
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Riverview have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
    • Croton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Croton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
    • Aetna
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
      • Aetna is located in Newaygo County
    • Wooster
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wooster have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
    • Newaygo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Newaygo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newaygo
      • Newaygo is located in Newaygo County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,099 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Newaygo <1>
    • Huber
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
      • Huber is located in Newaygo County
  • Oceana County
    • Hesperia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hesperia have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesperia
      • Hesperia is located in Oceana County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 936 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hesperia <1>
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.
    • Hersey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hersey have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
      • Hersey is located in Osceola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 347 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hersey <1>
    • Reed City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Evart
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Evart have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evart
      • Evart is located in Osceola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,886 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Evart <1>
    • Ashton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ashton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
      • Ashton is located in Osceola County
    • Sears
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sears have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sears
      • Sears is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sears <1>
    • Le Roy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Avondale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Avondale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
      • Avondale is located in Osceola County
    • Dighton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dighton
      • Dighton is located in Osceola County
    • Tustin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Tustin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tustin
      • Tustin is located in Osceola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tustin <1>

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Big Rapids, see our County-by-County Page for Big Rapids.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Big Rapids ...

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 79 newspapers that have been published in the area around Big Rapids.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Big Rapids. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Big Rapids and those printed in the larger area surrounding Big Rapids.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Big Rapids.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Big Rapids:

Cemeteries Near Big Rapids ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Big Rapids.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Big Rapids covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.

  • Highland View Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Highland View Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Highland View Cemetery
  • Mt. Camp Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Camp Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Camp Cemetery
  • West Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the West Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the West Cemetery
  • Pine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pine Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pine Cemetery
  • Van Gilder Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Van Gilder Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Van Gilder Cemetery
  • South Grant Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the South Grant Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the South Grant Cemetery
  • Ladner Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ladner Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ladner Cemetery
  • Parkhill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Parkhill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Parkhill Cemetery
  • Grant Center #1 Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grant Center #1 Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grant Center #1 Cemetery
  • Grant Center #2 Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Grant Center #2 Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Grant Center #2 Cemetery
  • St. Anne's Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Anne's Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Anne's Cemetery
  • Barton Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Barton Twp. Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Barton Twp. Cemetery
  • Continue List   (179 more) ...
    • Hungerford Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hungerford Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hungerford Cemetery
    • Crapo Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Crapo Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crapo Cemetery
    • Lawrence Farm Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lawrence Farm Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lawrence Farm Cemetery

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Big Rapids had a population of 5,303 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Big Rapids had a population of 10,408 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Big Rapids, with the one closest to Big Rapids listed first.

  • Paris
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Stanwood
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Rodney
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rodney have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
    • Rodney is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rodney <1>
  • Hawkins
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins
    • Hawkins is located in Newaygo County
  • Chippewa Lake
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Woodville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
    • Woodville is located in Newaygo County
  • Hersey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hersey have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
    • Hersey is located in Osceola County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 347 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hersey <1>
  • Borland
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Borland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Borland is located in Mecosta County
  • Reed City
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Big Prairie
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Big Prairie have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Prairie
    • Big Prairie is located in Newaygo County
  • Morley
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morley
    • Morley is located in Mecosta County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 495 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morley <1>
  • Altona
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Altona have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altona
    • Altona is located in Mecosta County
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Mecosta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mecosta have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mecosta
      • Mecosta is located in Mecosta County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 459 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mecosta <1>
    • Chase
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Rustford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rustford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Big Rapids. See our List of 1890's Communities around Big Rapids.

The official website for Big Rapids: www.ci.big-rapids.mi.us/

The official website for Mecosta County: www.co.mecosta.mi.us/

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Big Rapids) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Big Rapids. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.7039, Longitude: -85.4864       In this case, the coordinates for Big Rapids have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>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 Big Rapids, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024