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 Birch Crest Estates (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 Birch Crest Estates. 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 Birch Crest Estates ...
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 Birch Crest Estates: Birch Crest Ests.
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 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.
Birch Crest Estates is located in Cass 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 Cass County: Elkhart (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Berrien, Saint Joseph & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Birch Crest Estates. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Birch Crest Estates:
- Cass County (The home county of Birch Crest Estates)
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Sumnerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- Edwardsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pokagon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Cassopolis
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dowagiac
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- La Grange
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Brownsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Penn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Vandalia
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Union
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Wakelee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Jones
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Berrien County
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Niles
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Buchanan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bakertown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bakertown is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bakertown
- Berrien Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Dayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Berrien Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Eau Claire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Hills Corners
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Hills Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hills Corners
- Hartman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Galien
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Galien is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galien
- Population from the 2020 Census: 527 people
- Glendora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Glendora is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendora
- Hinchman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Mottville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Mottville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mottville
- Fabius
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Constantine
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- White Pigeon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Chamberlain
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Keeler
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Decatur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hartford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Lawrence
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Elkhart County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Simonton Lake
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- Elkhart
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jamestown is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Garden Village
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Garden Village is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Village
- Dunlap
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Dunlap is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunlap
- Bristol
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Wakarusa
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Southwest
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Southwest is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwest
- Foraker
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Foraker is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foraker
- Goshen
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Middlebury
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Nappanee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- LaPorte County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Rolling Prairie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hesston
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Smith
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Kankakee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kankakee is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kankakee
- Stillwell
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stillwell is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stillwell
- La Porte
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Michiana Shores
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Marshall County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- La Paz
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- La Paz is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Paz
- Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
- Bremen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Harris
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Harris is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
- Linkville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Linkville is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linkville
- Tyner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Tyner is located in Marshall County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyner
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Georgetown
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Indian Village
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Roseland
(6 miles [9.7 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
- Granger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- South Bend
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Mishawaka
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Osceola
(12 miles [19.3 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>
- Gulivoire Park
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Zeigler
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Nutwood
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Nutwood is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nutwood
- Crumstown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- New Carlisle
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Starke County (IN)
- Koontz Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Koontz Lake is located in Starke County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Koontz Lake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Birch Crest Estates, see our County-by-County Page for Birch Crest Estates.
Cemeteries Near Birch Crest Estates ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Birch Crest Estates.
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 Birch Crest Estates - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Birch Crest Estates covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Silverbrook Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Springbrook Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Father Allouez Grave Site
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ann Beason Purdy Groves
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Bertrand Protestant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Truitt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Barron Lake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dick Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- St. Josephs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Truitt Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Johnson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (268 more) ...
- Harrah Road Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Harris Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Smith Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 Birch Crest Estates in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Birch Crest Estates.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Birch Crest Estates, with the one closest to Birch Crest Estates listed first.
- Niles
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Fairland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fairland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairland
- Buchanan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Granger
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Edwardsburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Pokagon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- Dailey
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Dailey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dailey
- South Bend
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Berrien Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Mishawaka
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Dayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Dayton is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dayton
- Berrien Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Eau Claire
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Osceola
(12 miles [19.3 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>
- Adamsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Adamsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adamsville
- Former name for Adamsville:
- Sage's Mill
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Birch Crest Estates. See our List of 1890's Communities around Birch Crest Estates.
Newspapers Published in Birch Crest Estates ...
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 Birch Crest Estates.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Birch Crest Estates, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Birch Crest Estates.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Birch Crest Estates:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Cass County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Berrien County
- Saint Joseph County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- LaPorte County
- Marshall County
- Saint Joseph County
- Starke 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 Birch Crest Estates, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Birch Crest Estates) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |