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 Billings (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 Billings. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Billings is located in Gladwin 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 Gladwin County: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Isabella, Midland, Ogemaw & Roscommon.
Below are the counties that are near Billings. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Billings:
- Gladwin County (The home county of Billings)
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Highwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Highwood is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highwood
- Beaverton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Wooden Shoe Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Wooden Shoe Village is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooden Shoe Village
- White Star
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- White Star is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Star
- Rhodes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- Gladwin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Rapids
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Sugar Rapids is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Rapids
- Butman
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Butman is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butman
- Arenac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Sterling
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Standish
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Saganing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Saganing is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saganing
- Whites Beach
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Whites Beach is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites Beach
- Melita
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Melita is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melita
- Pine River
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Pine River is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine River
- Arenac
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Arenac is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arenac
- Omer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Omer is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 288 people
- Maple Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Maple Ridge is located in Arenac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Ridge
- Bay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Mount Forest
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mount Forest is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Forest
- Bentley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bentley is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bentley
- Duel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Duel is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duel
- Nine Mile
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Nine Mile is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Mile
- Woodville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Woodville is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Seidlers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Seidlers is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seidlers
- Willard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Willard is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willard
- Pinconning
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Linwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fisherville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Fisherville is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisherville
- Auburn
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Brissette Beach
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brissette Beach is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brissette Beach
- Kawkawlin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Clare County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Dover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Clare
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Meredith
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Meredith is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meredith
- Hatton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Hatton is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Allendale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Allendale is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
- Harrison
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Farwell
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Lake George
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Lake George is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Gratiot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- North Wheeler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- North Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wheeler
- Wheeler
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Wheeler is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Loomis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Loomis is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
- Vernon City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Vernon City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon City
- Alembic
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Jordan
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Rosebush
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Pleasant
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Shepherd
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Coe
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Coe is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
- Beal City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Edenville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Edenville is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
- Hope
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Bradley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Averill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Averill is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
- Sanford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Alamando
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- Coleman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Midland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Oil City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Porter
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Ryan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Ryan is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Redstone
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Ogemaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Greenwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greenwood is located in Ogemaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Skidway Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Branch
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Freeland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Iva
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Iva is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
- Dice
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dice is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dice
- Frost
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Frost is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost
- Hemlock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Merrill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Billings, see our County-by-County Page for Billings.
Cemeteries Near Billings ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Billings.
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 Billings - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Billings covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Billings Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Edenville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Swanton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- New Hope Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Arbutus Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Beaverton City Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Old Bombay Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Hope Lutheran Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- New Rhodes Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (154 more) ...
- Rhodes Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Geneva Community Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sullivan Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 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.<2>
While we didn't find Billings in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Billings.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Billings, with the one closest to Billings listed first.
- Edenville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Edenville is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edenville
- Hope
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Beaverton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rhodes
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rhodes is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rhodes
- North Bradley
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Mount Forest
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Mount Forest is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Forest
- Gladwin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Alamando
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- Sanford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Averill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Averill is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averill
- Coleman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- McClure
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- McClure is located in Gladwin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClure
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Nine Mile
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Nine Mile is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nine Mile
- Loomis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Loomis is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loomis
- Midland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Billings. See our List of 1890's Communities around Billings.
Newspapers Published in Billings ...
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 96 newspapers that have been published in the area around Billings.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Billings, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Billings.
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 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 Billings:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Gladwin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Arenac County
- Bay County
- Clare County
- Gratiot County
- Isabella County
- Midland County
- Ogemaw County
- Saginaw 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 Billings, 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- Billings) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |