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 Crofton (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 Crofton. 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 doctors 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.
Crofton is located in Kalkaska 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 Kalkaska County: Antrim, Crawford, Grand Traverse, Missaukee, Otsego, Roscommon & Wexford.
Below are the counties that are near Crofton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Crofton:
- Kalkaska County (The home county of Crofton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Lodi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- South Boardman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kalkaska
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Spencer
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Deibert
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Deibert is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deibert
- Sigma
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
- Barker Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
- Fife Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sharon ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sharon is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Sharon has also been known as:
- Big Oley
- Jam One
- Angling
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Angling is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angling
- Rapid City
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Torch River
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
- Westwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Antrim County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Alden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Elk Rapids
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Clam Lake ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
- Kewadin
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Mancelona
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Bellaire
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Wetzel ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Wetzel is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
- Wetzel has also been known as:
- Wetzell
- Alba
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Finkton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Finkton is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
- Central Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Eastport
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Benzie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Bendon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bendon is located in Benzie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
- Lake Ann
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- McIntyre Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- McIntyre Landing is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre Landing
- Rasmus
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rasmus is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rasmus
- Deward ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Deward is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
- Frederic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Grayling
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Skyline Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Skyline Village is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline Village
- Pere Cheney ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Pere Cheney is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pere Cheney
- Pere Cheney has also been known as:
- Center Plains
- Cheney
- Grand Traverse County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Tunk ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
- Mabel
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mabel is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
- Williamsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Devils Elbow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Devils Elbow is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Elbow
- Angel
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
- Angel has also been known as:
- Angel Station
- Angell Station
- Walton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Walton is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
- Walton has also been known as:
- Walton Junction
- Acme
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mayfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Kingsley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Summit City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Summit City is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit City
- Traverse City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Mapleton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
- Grawn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Leelanau County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Greilickville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Greilickville is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greilickville
- Hatchs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hatchs is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs
- Bingham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Bingham is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
- Solon
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Solon is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
- Cedar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Isadore ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Isadore is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadore
- Manseau ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Manseau is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manseau
- Suttons Bay
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Peshawbestown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Peshawbestown is located in Leelanau County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peshawbestown
- Missaukee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Stittsville ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stittsville is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stittsville
- Cutcheon
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cutcheon is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutcheon
- Moorestown
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Moorestown is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorestown
- Stratford ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stratford is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
- Jennings
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Jennings is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings
- Lake City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Star City
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Star City is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Merritt
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Falmouth
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Otsego County
- Waters
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Roscommon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Tent City
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Tent City is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tent City
- Higgins Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hillcrest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hillcrest is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Wexford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- Baxter
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Baxter is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Manton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bond's Mills ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Bond's Mills is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond's Mills
- Buckley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Missaukee Junction
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Missaukee Junction is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Missaukee Junction
- Meauwataka
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Meauwataka is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meauwataka
- Haring
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Haring is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haring
- Sherman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sherman is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
- Glengary
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Glengary is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glengary
- Cadillac
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bagnall
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bagnall is located in Wexford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagnall
- Mesick
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Crofton, see our County-by-County Page for Crofton.
Cemeteries Near Crofton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Crofton.
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 Crofton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Crofton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- South Boardman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lodi Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Deibert Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Garfield Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fife Lake Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- St. Aloysius Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- St. Mary Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Oliver Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Clark Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Excelsior Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Maplegrove Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (111 more) ...
- Clearwater Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Circle Hill Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Northrup Grave
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
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 Crofton had a population of 80 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Crofton, with the one closest to Crofton listed first.
- South Boardman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lodi
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Kalkaska
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Fife Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Barker Creek
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
- Leetsville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Leetsville is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leetsville
- Sharon ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Sharon is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Sharon has also been known as:
- Big Oley
- Jam One
- Williamsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bates
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bates is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bates
- Walton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Walton is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
- Walton has also been known as:
- Walton Junction
- Westwood
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Mayfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Pioneer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Pioneer is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pioneer
- Acme
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kingsley
(15 miles [24.1 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 Crofton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Crofton.
Newspapers Published in Crofton ...
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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Crofton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Crofton, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Crofton.
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 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 Crofton:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Kalkaska County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Antrim County
- Benzie County
- Crawford County
- Grand Traverse County
- Leelanau County
- Missaukee County
- Otsego County
- Roscommon County
- Wexford 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 Crofton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Crofton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |