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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 Corning (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 Corning. 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 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.

Corning is located in Allegan 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 Allegan County: Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa & Van Buren.

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

  • Allegan County     (The home county of Corning)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Moline
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • Wayland
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bradley
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Bradley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
    • Dorr
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Hilliards
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • Shelbyville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Hopkins
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • New Salem
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
    • Burnips
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Burnips is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
      • Former name for Burnips:
      • Burnip's Corners
    • Martin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Watson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Watson is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Hooper
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Hooper is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Middleville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Irving
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
    • Freeport
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Hastings
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Cloverdale
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cloverdale is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Prairieville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Prairieville is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Doster
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Doster is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
    • Delton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Morgan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Morgan is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
    • Dowling
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Dowling is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
    • Hickory Corners
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Bedford
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Level Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Level Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
  • Eaton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Woodbury
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Woodbury is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
    • Vermontville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Sunfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Elmdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
    • Campbell Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
    • Clarksville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Odessa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Saranac
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • West Sebewa
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • West Sebewa is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sebewa
    • Smyrna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Kalamazoo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Alamo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
    • Highland Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
    • Richland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • South Gull Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
    • East Cooper
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
    • Yorkville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Parchment
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Eastwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Kalamazoo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Westwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Augusta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Comstock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Corinth
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Corinth is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
    • Caledonia
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Cutlerville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Dutton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Dutton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
    • Byron Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Carlisle
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Carlisle is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • North Dorr
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • North Dorr is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
    • Kentwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Clyde Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Clyde Park is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
    • Burlingame
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Burlingame is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Alto
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Beverly
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Beverly is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Jamestown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Forest Grove
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
    • Jenison
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Forest Grove Station
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
    • Hudsonville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Drenthe
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
    • South Blendon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
    • Bauer
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Zeeland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Allendale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Lamont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Marne
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Corning, with the one closest to Corning listed first.
    • Kendall
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • Gobles
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • North Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • North Lake is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake

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

Cemeteries Near Corning ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Corning.

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 Corning - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hooker Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • South Gaines Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St.s Cyril & Methodius' Catholic Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Dorr Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Coman Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Parmalee Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Caledonia Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lakeside Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Lakeside Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Caledonia.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1930517 <2>
  • Weaver Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (319 more) ...

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 Corning had a population of 25 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Moline
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Moline is located in Allegan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
  • Wayland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Corinth
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Corinth is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
  • Bradley
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bradley is located in Allegan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
  • Bowens Mill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bowens Mill is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowens Mill
  • Middleville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Ross
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ross is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
  • Dorr
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Hilliards
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
  • Carlisle
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Carlisle is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
  • Labarge
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Labarge is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Labarge
  • Dutton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Dutton is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Byron Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • North Dorr
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • North Dorr is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
    • Shelbyville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Corning. See our List of 1890's Communities around Corning.

Newspapers Published in Corning ...

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 220 newspapers that have been published in the area around Corning.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Corning, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Corning.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Corning:

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 Corning, 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- Corning) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.