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 Bridgewater (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 Bridgewater. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Bridgewater is located in Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw County: Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland & Wayne.
Below are the counties that are near Bridgewater. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bridgewater:
- Washtenaw County (The home county of Bridgewater)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Saline
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Manchester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rowes Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Rowes Corner is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Corner
- Pittsfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pittsfield is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
- Pittsfield has also been known as:
- Pittsfield Village
- Sharon Hollow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sharon Hollow is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Hollow
- Ann Arbor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stony Creek
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stony Creek is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
- Delhi Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Delhi Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi Mills
- Dexter
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Chelsea
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Barton Hills
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Barton Hills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
- Whittaker
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Whittaker is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittaker
- Hudson Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hudson Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson Mills
- Hillsdale County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Somerset
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Somerset Center
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Somerset Center is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset Center
- Jerome
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Ingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Stockbridge
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fitchburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Fitchburg is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchburg
- Bunker Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bunker Hill is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Fishville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Fishville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Norvell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Norvell is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norvell
- Grass Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Napoleon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Waterloo
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Waterloo is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Brooklyn
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Trist
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Trist is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trist
- Leoni
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Leoni is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leoni
- Clarklake
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Michigan Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Munith
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Liberty
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Liberty is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Vandercook Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Vandercook Lake is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandercook Lake
- Lenawee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Macon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Macon is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Clinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,287 people
- Tecumseh
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeway
- Britton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Tipton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Holloway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Holloway is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holloway
- Cambridge Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cambridge Junction is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge Junction
- Onsted
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Adrian
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Deerfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wellsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Wellsville is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellsville
- Friendly Village of Adrian
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Chalkerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Chalkerville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalkerville
- Chalkerville has also been known as:
- Chalkers Landing
- Hell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hell is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hell
- Hell has also been known as:
- Hi Land Lake
- Highland Lake
- Hiland Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hell <1>
- Kaiserville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Kaiserville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaiserville
- Hamburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Pinckney
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Whitmore Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Unadilla
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Unadilla is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unadilla
- Lakeland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pettysville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pettysville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pettysville
- Anderson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Anderson is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Gregory
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Chubb's Corners ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Chubb's Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chubb's Corners
- Green Oak
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Green Oak is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Oak
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Cone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cone is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cone
- Milan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Azalia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Azalia is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Azalia
- Oakville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Oakville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Dundee
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Diann
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Diann is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diann
- Petersburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg Junction
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Petersburg Junction is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petersburg Junction
- Federman ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Federman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Federman
- Maybee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grape
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Grape is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grape
- Scofield
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Scofield is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield
- Ida
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- South Lyon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- New Hudson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Northville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Novi
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wayne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- Belleville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Sheldon
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sheldon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheldon
- Canton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- New Boston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Willow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Willow is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow
- Plymouth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Romulus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wayne
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Westland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eloise
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Eloise is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eloise
- Lucas County (OH)
- Berkey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Berkey is located in Lucas County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkey
- Population from the 2020 Census: 241 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bridgewater, see our County-by-County Page for Bridgewater.
Cemeteries Near Bridgewater ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bridgewater.
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 Bridgewater - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bridgewater covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Shellenberger Road Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bethel Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- St. Francis' Catholic Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Benton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- St. James Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Schneider Road Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgewater Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Gadd Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- St. Thomas' Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Freedom Cemetery #2
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (421 more) ...
- Oakhill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Freedom Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
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 Bridgewater had a population of 118 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bridgewater, with the one closest to Bridgewater listed first.
- River Raisin
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- River Raisin is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Raisin
- Macon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Macon is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macon
- Saline
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Manchester
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Clinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,287 people
- Newburg
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Newburg is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Pittsfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Pittsfield is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
- Pittsfield has also been known as:
- Pittsfield Village
- Tecumseh
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ridgeway is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgeway
- Cone
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cone is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cone
- Ann Arbor
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Scio
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Scio is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scio
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Tipton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Britton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Milan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bridgewater. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bridgewater.
Newspapers Published in Bridgewater ...
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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bridgewater.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bridgewater, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bridgewater.
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 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 Bridgewater:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Washtenaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hillsdale County
- Ingham County
- Jackson County
- Lenawee County
- Livingston County
- Monroe County
- Oakland County
- Wayne County
- Lucas 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> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bridgewater) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Bridgewater, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |