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 Central Lake (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 Central Lake. 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 Central Lake ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Central Lake: Central Lk.
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 southwest 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 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.
Central Lake is located in Antrim 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 Antrim County: Charlevoix, Crawford, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska & Otsego.
Below are the counties that are near Central Lake. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Central Lake:
- Antrim County (The home county of Central Lake)
- The following are listed by their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Eastport
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Finkton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Finkton is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
- Ellsworth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bellaire
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Clam Lake ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
- Kewadin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Alden
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Elk Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wetzel ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wetzel is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
- Wetzel has also been known as:
- Wetzell
- Alba
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mancelona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Charlevoix County
- The following are listed by their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- East Jordan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Goo ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Goo is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goo
- Norwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Ironton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
- Boyne City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
- Former names for Boyne City:
- Bay Springs
- Boyne
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
- Charlevoix
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Horton Bay
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Horton Bay is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton Bay
- Boyne Falls
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Zenith Heights
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Zenith Heights is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith Heights
- Bay Shore
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bay Shore is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Shore
- Walloon Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Crawford County
- Deward ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Deward is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
- Emmet County
- The following are listed by their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Bay Harbor
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Petoskey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bay View
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Beach is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Beach
- Kegomic ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kegomic is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegomic
- Harbor Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wequetonsing
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Wequetonsing is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetonsing
- Ramona Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ramona Park is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona Park
- Roaring Brook
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Roaring Brook is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring Brook
- Conway
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Traverse County
- The following are listed by their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Old Mission
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Mapleton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
- Angel
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
- Angel has also been known as:
- Angel Station
- Angell Station
- Tunk ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
- Mabel
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Mabel is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Williamsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Acme
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Traverse City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Devils Elbow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Devils Elbow is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Elbow
- Kalkaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Torch River
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
- Rapid City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Westwood
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Barker Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
- Kalkaska
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Lodi
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Sigma
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
- South Boardman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Spencer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Angling
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Angling is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angling
- Leelanau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Omena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Peshawbestown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Peshawbestown is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peshawbestown
- Manseau ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Manseau is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manseau
- Northport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Onominee ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Onominee is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onominee
- Onominee has also been known as:
- Onominese
- Onomonese
- Onuminee
- Onumunese
- Suttons Bay
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Lake Leelanau
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Bingham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bingham is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Leland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Hatchs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Hatchs is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs
- Bodus
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bodus is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodus
- Greilickville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Greilickville is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greilickville
- Schomberg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Schomberg is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schomberg
- Otsego County
- The following are listed by their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Elmira
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Hallock
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hallock is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
- Berryville ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Berryville is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Gaylord
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pearll City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pearll City is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
- Arbutus Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
- Vanderbilt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Waters
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Central Lake, see our County-by-County Page for Central Lake.
Cemeteries Near Central Lake ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Central Lake.
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 Central Lake - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Central Lake covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Southern Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Bay View Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Densmore Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lakeview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Lakeview Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southeast of Eastport.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #875 <2>
- Lake View Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Russell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Flewelling Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Morehouse Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jones Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ellsworth Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellsworth Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Ellsworth Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Ellsworth.
- The Ellsworth Cemetery has also been known as:
- Boss Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #444 <2>
- Atwood Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Catholic Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (117 more) ...
- Eldred Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bryden Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Bliss Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Central Lake had a population of 75 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Central Lake had a population of 942 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Central Lake, with the one closest to Central Lake listed first.
- Snowflake
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Snowflake is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snowflake
- Torch Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Torch Lake is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch Lake
- Creswell
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Creswell is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creswell
- Eastport
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Finkton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Finkton is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
- Ellsworth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Bellaire
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Atwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Atwood is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atwood
- East Jordan
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Clam Lake ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
- Chestonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Chestonia is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestonia
- Kewadin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Norwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Old Mission
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Elk Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Central Lake. See our List of 1890's Communities around Central Lake.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Central Lake ...
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 112 newspapers that have been published in the area around Central Lake.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Central Lake. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Central Lake and those printed in the larger area surrounding Central Lake.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4> of Central Lake.
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 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 Central Lake:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Antrim County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Charlevoix County
- Crawford County
- Emmet County
- Grand Traverse County
- Kalkaska County
- Leelanau County
- Otsego 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Central Lake, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Central Lake) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |