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 Colwood (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 Colwood. 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 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.
Colwood is located in Tuscola 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 Tuscola County: Bay, Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Saginaw & Sanilac.
Below are the counties that are near Colwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Colwood:
- Tuscola County (The home county of Colwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Colling
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Colling is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colling
- Elmwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elmwood is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Gagetown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Unionville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cass City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Caro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Akron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Deford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Deford is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deford
- Fairgrove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wahjamega
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
- Bay Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Bay Park is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Park
- Watrousville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Watrousville is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watrousville
- Bay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Munger
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Essexville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Banks ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Banks is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
- Banks has also been known as:
- Bangor
- Bank City
- Bay City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wenona Beach ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wenona Beach is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona Beach
- Wenona ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Wenona is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wenona
- West Bay City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- West Bay City is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bay City
- West Bay City has also been known as:
- West Bank City
- Brooks ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Brooks is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brooks
- Salzburg ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Salzburg is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salzburg
- Brissette Beach
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Brissette Beach is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brissette Beach
- Kawkawlin
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Frankenlust
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Frankenlust is located in Bay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frankenlust
- Huron County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Bach
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Bach is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bach
- Kilmanagh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kilmanagh is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmanagh
- Owendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sebewaing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Valley Island
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Valley Island is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Island
- Pigeon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Bay Port
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Berne
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Berne is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berne
- Elkton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ora Labora
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Ora Labora is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora Labora
- Ora Labora has also been known as:
- Ora et Labora
- Ubly
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Bad Axe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lapeer County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Silverwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Clifford
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Clifford is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
- North Branch
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Otter Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Barnes Lake - Millers Lake
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Burnside
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Burnside is located in Lapeer County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnside
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Reese
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Blumfield Corners
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Blumfield Corners is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blumfield Corners
- Frankenmuth
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Melbourne ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Melbourne is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melbourne
- Crow Island ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Crow Island is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crow Island
- Zilwaukee city
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Zilwaukee city is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zilwaukee city
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,517 people
- Buena Vista
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Carrollton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Carrollton is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Kochville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Kochville is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kochville
- Sanilac County
- The following are listed by their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Hemans
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hemans is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemans
- Decker
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Decker is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decker
- Argyle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Argyle is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argyle
- Snover
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Snover is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snover
- Tyre
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Tyre is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyre
- Marlette
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Elmer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elmer is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmer
- Juhl
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Juhl is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juhl
- Minden City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Palms
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Palms is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palms
- Sandusky
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sandusky is located in Sanilac County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandusky
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,494 people
- Former name for Sandusky:
- Sanilac Centre
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sandusky <1>
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Colwood, see our County-by-County Page for Colwood.
Cemeteries Near Colwood ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Colwood.
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 Colwood - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Colwood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Elmwood Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Columbia Twp. Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Ellington Twp. Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Agatha's Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Columbia Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Twp. Cemetery
- The Columbia Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Columbia Cemetery
- Columbia Corners Cemetery
- Unionville Village Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2321903 <2>
- Elmwood Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Moravian Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Almer Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Tuscola County Poor Farm Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Demorest Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (153 more) ...
- Indianfields Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indianfields Twp. Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Indianfields Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Caro.
- The Indianfields Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
- Caro Cemetery
- Indian Fields Twp. Cemetery
- Indianfields Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #795 <2>
- Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Grant Twp. Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
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 Colwood had a population of 26 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Colwood, with the one closest to Colwood listed first.
- Elmwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elmwood is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
- Ellington
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ellington is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellington
- Gagetown
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Unionville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Akron
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Caro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Cass City
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Kilmanagh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Kilmanagh is located in Huron County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmanagh
- Sebewaing
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Owendale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Deford
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Deford is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deford
- Fairgrove
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Wisner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Wisner is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wisner
- Wahjamega
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wahjamega is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahjamega
- Watrousville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Watrousville is located in Tuscola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watrousville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Colwood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Colwood.
Newspapers Published in Colwood ...
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 87 newspapers that have been published in the area around Colwood.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Colwood, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Colwood.
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 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 Colwood:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Tuscola County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bay County
- Huron County
- Lapeer County
- Saginaw County
- Sanilac 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 Colwood, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Colwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |