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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 Colling (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 Colling. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.

Colling is located in Tuscola County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Tuscola County: Bay, Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Saginaw & Sanilac.

Below are the counties that are near Colling. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colling:

  • Tuscola County     (The home county of Colling)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colling, with the one closest to Colling listed first.
    • Unionville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Elmwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Akron
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Gagetown
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gagetown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gagetown
      • Gagetown is located in Tuscola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gagetown <1>
    • Caro
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Fairgrove
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairgrove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairgrove
      • Fairgrove is located in Tuscola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairgrove <1>
    • Bay Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Cass City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cass City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass City
      • Cass City is located in Tuscola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,273 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cass City <1>
    • Wahjamega
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wahjamega. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
      • Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wahjamega
      • From Colling to Wahjamega
    • Deford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Watrousville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Gilford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Bay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colling, with the one closest to Colling listed first.
    • Munger
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Munger have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Munger
      • Munger is located in Bay County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Munger <1>
    • Essexville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Essexville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essexville
      • Essexville is located in Bay County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,244 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Essexville <1>
    • Banks ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Banks. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
      • Banks is located in Bay County
      • Banks has also been known as:
      • Bangor
      • Bank City
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Banks
      • From Colling to Banks
    • Bay City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Wenona Beach ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Wenona ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wenona. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
      • Wenona is located in Bay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wenona
      • From Colling to Wenona
    • West Bay City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for West Bay City. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bay City
      • West Bay City is located in Bay County
      • West Bay City has also been known as:
      • West Bank City
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to West Bay City
      • From Colling to West Bay City
    • Brooks ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Brooks. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
      • Brooks is located in Bay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Brooks
      • From Colling to Brooks
    • Salzburg ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Salzburg. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
      • Salzburg is located in Bay County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Salzburg
      • From Colling to Salzburg
    • Brissette Beach
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Kawkawlin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Frankenlust
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Huron County
  • Lapeer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colling, with the one closest to Colling listed first.
    • Silverwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Silverwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silverwood
      • Silverwood is located in Lapeer County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Silverwood <1>
    • Clifford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clifford have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
      • Clifford is located in Lapeer County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
    • Otter Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Otter Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otter Lake
      • Otter Lake is located in Lapeer County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 377 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Otter Lake <1>
    • North Branch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Barnes Lake - Millers Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Saginaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colling, with the one closest to Colling listed first.
    • Reese
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reese have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reese
      • Reese is located in Saginaw County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,366 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Reese <1>
    • Blumfield Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Melbourne ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Melbourne. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbourne
      • Melbourne is located in Saginaw County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Melbourne
      • From Colling to Melbourne
    • Frankenmuth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Crow Island ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crow Island have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Island
      • Crow Island is located in Saginaw County
    • Buena Vista
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Buena Vista. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
      • Buena Vista is located in Saginaw County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Buena Vista
      • From Colling to Buena Vista
    • Kochville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Zilwaukee city
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Zilwaukee city. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zilwaukee city
      • Zilwaukee city is located in Saginaw County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Zilwaukee city
      • From Colling to Zilwaukee city
    • Carrollton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Bridgeport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Saginaw
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Sanilac County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Colling, with the one closest to Colling listed first.
    • Hemans
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hemans. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemans
      • Hemans is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hemans
      • From Colling to Hemans
    • Decker
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Argyle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Snover
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Marlette
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Tyre
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Elmer
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Juhl
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Juhl. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juhl
      • Juhl is located in Sanilac County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Juhl
      • From Colling to Juhl

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Colling, see our County-by-County Page for Colling.

Cemeteries Near Colling ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colling.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Colling covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Colling, with the one closest to Colling listed first.

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.<5>

While we didn't find Colling in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Colling.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Colling, with the one closest to Colling listed first.

  • Colwood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Colwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colwood
    • Colwood is located in Tuscola County
  • Unionville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Ellington
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ellington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellington
    • Ellington is located in Tuscola County
  • Akron
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Elmwood
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Fairgrove
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fairgrove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairgrove
    • Fairgrove is located in Tuscola County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fairgrove <1>
  • Sebewaing
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Caro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Gagetown
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gagetown have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gagetown
    • Gagetown is located in Tuscola County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 361 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gagetown <1>
  • Wisner
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wisner have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wisner
    • Wisner is located in Tuscola County
  • Owendale
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Owendale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owendale
    • Owendale is located in Huron County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 221 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Owendale <1>
  • Kilmanagh
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Wahjamega
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Wahjamega. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
      • Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Wahjamega
      • From Colling to Wahjamega
    • Cass City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cass City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass City
      • Cass City is located in Tuscola County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,273 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cass City <1>
    • Watrousville
      (12 miles [19.3 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 Colling. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colling.

Newspapers Published in Colling ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colling.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Colling, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Colling.

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 Colling:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Colling. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Tuscola County: www.tuscolacounty.org/

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<5>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 Colling, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Colling) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Colling. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 43.6110, Longitude: -83.4116       In this case, the coordinates for Colling have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025