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 Cedar Springs (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 Cedar Springs. 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 Cedar Springs ...
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 Cedar Springs: Cedar Spgs. (or less commonly used: Cedar Spngs. or Cedar Sprngs.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Cedar Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Cedar Springs.
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 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.
Cedar Springs is located in Kent 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 Kent County: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo & Ottawa.
Below are the counties that are near Cedar Springs. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cedar Springs:
- Kent County (The home county of Cedar Springs)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Sheffield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sheffield is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
- Edgerton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Edgerton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
- Sand Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rockford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Harvard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Harvard is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
- Sparta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Kent City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Casnovia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Cannonsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Northview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Northview is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
- Grattan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grattan is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grattan
- Lisbon
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lisbon is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Belding
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Smyrna
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Orleans
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Orleans is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Shiloh
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Shiloh is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Woods Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
- Saranac
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elmdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Elmdale is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
- Palo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Palo is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
- Ionia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Ionia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Ionia is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
- Clarksville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mecosta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Morley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Borland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Borland is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
- Rustford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rustford is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
- Stanwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Canadian Lakes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
- Halls Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Pierson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Trufant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gowen
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Howard City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Coral
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greenville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Amble
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Amble is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
- Langston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Langston is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Eureka Place
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
- Lakeview
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Amsden
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Amsden is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsden
- Sidney
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Entrican
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Entrican is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
- Muskegon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Bailey
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Canada Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
- Slocum
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Slocum is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
- Ravenna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Morgan Corners
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
- Sullivan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Brunswick
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
- Wolf Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
- Holton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Newaygo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Sun
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sun is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
- Ashland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ashland is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Croton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Croton is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Grant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Riverview
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Riverview is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- Newaygo
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgeton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Bishop
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bishop is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Brookside
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Brookside is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Sitka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sitka is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
- White Cloud
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wooster
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wooster is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
- Fremont
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fremont is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
- Former name for Fremont:
- Fremont Center
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
- Ottawa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Wright
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wright is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
- Conklin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Marne
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Coopersville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lamont
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Lamont is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
- Eastmanville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
- Jenison
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Allendale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bauer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bauer is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Nunica
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Hudsonville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rusk
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rusk is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
- South Blendon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cedar Springs, see our County-by-County Page for Cedar Springs.
Cemeteries Near Cedar Springs ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cedar Springs.
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 Cedar Springs - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cedar Springs covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Cedar Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Punches Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Solon Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- East Nelson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Sand Lake Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Algoma Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Briggs Family Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Courtland Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Crandall Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- De Graw Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- St. Margaret's Catholic Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (257 more) ...
- Myers Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Old Rockford Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Rockford Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Cedar Springs had a population of 1,035 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Cedar Springs had a population of 3,743 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cedar Springs, with the one closest to Cedar Springs listed first.
- Sheffield
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Sheffield is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
- Edgerton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Edgerton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
- Evans
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Evans is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
- Sand Lake
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Rockford
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Harvard
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Harvard is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
- Pierson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sparta
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Englishville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Englishville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englishville
- Belmont
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Sun
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Sun is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
- Kent City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Chauncey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Chauncey is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chauncey
- Trufant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Casnovia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cedar Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cedar Springs.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Cedar Springs ...
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 198 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cedar Springs.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Cedar Springs. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Cedar Springs and those printed in the larger area surrounding Cedar Springs.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3> of Cedar Springs.
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 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 Cedar Springs:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Kent County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Ionia County
- Mecosta County
- Montcalm County
- Muskegon County
- Newaygo County
- Ottawa 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 Cedar Springs, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Cedar Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |