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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 Crystal Spring (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 Crystal Spring. 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 Crystal Spring ...

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.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Crystal Spring: Crystal Spg. (or less commonly used: Crystal Spng. or Crystal Sprng.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Crystal Spring. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Crystal Spring.

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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.

Crystal Spring is located in Leelanau 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 Leelanau County: Benzie & Grand Traverse.

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

  • Leelanau County     (The home county of Crystal Spring)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Hatchs
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Hatchs is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs
    • Greilickville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Greilickville is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greilickville
    • Bingham
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
    • Solon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Solon is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
    • Isadore ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Isadore is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadore
    • Cedar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Bodus
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Bodus is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodus
    • Schomberg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Schomberg is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schomberg
    • Suttons Bay
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Maple City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Lake Leelanau
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Shalda Corners ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Shalda Corners is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shalda Corners
    • Manseau ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Manseau is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manseau
  • Antrim County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Elk Rapids
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Kewadin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Alden
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Bellaire
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Eastport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Central Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Mancelona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Ellsworth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Finkton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Finkton is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
  • Benzie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Lake Ann
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bendon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bendon is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
    • Platte River
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Platte River is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Platte River
    • Honor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Wallin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Wallin is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallin
    • Aral ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Aral is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aral
      • Aral has also been known as:
      • Otter Creek
    • Griner Station
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Griner Station is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griner Station
      • Griner Station has also been known as:
      • Print
    • Nessen City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Nessen City is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nessen City
    • Beulah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Thompsonville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Benzonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Charlevoix County
    • Norwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
  • Grand Traverse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Traverse City
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Mapleton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
    • Acme
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Angel
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
      • Angel has also been known as:
      • Angel Station
      • Angell Station
    • Grawn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Williamsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Old Mission
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Devils Elbow
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Devils Elbow is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Elbow
    • Interlochen
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Mabel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Mabel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Mayfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
    • Tunk ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
    • Kingsley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Kingsley is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,618 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kingsley <1>
  • Kalkaska County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Barker Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
    • Torch River
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
    • Rapid City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Fife Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • South Boardman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Kalkaska
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Westwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Deibert
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Deibert is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deibert
    • Lodi
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
    • Spencer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
  • Manistee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Harlan ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Harlan is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan
    • Pomona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pomona is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pomona
    • Copemish
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Henry ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Henry is located in Manistee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
  • Wexford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Crystal Spring, with the one closest to Crystal Spring listed first.
    • Baxter
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Baxter is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
    • Buckley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Bagnall
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Bagnall is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bagnall
    • Glengary
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Glengary is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glengary
    • Sherman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Sherman is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Mesick
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Crystal Spring ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Crystal Spring.

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 Crystal Spring - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Heimforth Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bingham Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Fouch Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Memorial Gardens Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sutton Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Solon Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Linwood Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Bowers Harbor Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (141 more) ...
    • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Acme Twp. Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Acme Twp. Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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>

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

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

  • Bingham
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
  • Traverse City
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Solon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Solon is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
  • Keswick
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Keswick is located in Leelanau County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keswick
  • Acme
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Mapleton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
  • Cedar Run
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Cedar Run is located in Benzie County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Run
  • Yuba
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Yuba is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
  • Suttons Bay
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Bates
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bates is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bates
  • Maple City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Lake Ann
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Grawn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Williamsburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Elk Rapids
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Crystal Spring ...

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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Crystal Spring.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Crystal Spring, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Crystal Spring.

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 Crystal Spring:

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 Crystal Spring, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Crystal Spring) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.