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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 Dayton Center (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 Dayton Center. 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 Dayton Center ...

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 Dayton Center: Dayton Ctr. (or less commonly used: Dayton Cen., Dayton Cent. or Dayton Cntr.)

You might see Dayton Centre instead of Dayton Center.

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.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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.

Dayton Center is located in Newaygo 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 Newaygo County: Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oceana & Osceola.

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

  • Newaygo County     (The home county of Dayton Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Fremont
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fremont is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
      • Former name for Fremont:
      • Fremont Center
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
    • Aetna
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Aetna is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
    • Reeman
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Reeman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeman
    • Wooster
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
    • Brookside
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Huber
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Huber is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
    • Bishop
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Sitka
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Sitka is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
    • White Cloud
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Newaygo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Ramona
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ramona is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
    • Bridgeton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Casnovia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kent City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Lisbon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Lisbon is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Sand Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sparta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Marlborough
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Marlborough is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
    • Baldwin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Idlewild
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Idlewild is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idlewild
    • Nirvana
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Nirvana is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nirvana
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Carr
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Carr is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carr
      • Carr has also been known as:
      • Carr Settlement
      • McCumber Settlement
    • Fern
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Fern is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
      • Fern has also been known as:
      • Adamsville
    • Wiley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Wiley is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiley
      • Wiley has also been known as:
      • Wileys
  • Mecosta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Morley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Borland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Stanwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Big Rapids
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Paris
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Howard City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Pierson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Amble
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
    • Coral
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Brunswick
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
    • Holton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Twin Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakewood Club
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lakewood Club is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Club
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,292 people
    • Wolf Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Bailey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Morgan Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Dalton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dalton is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
    • Whitehall
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Canada Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Slocum
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Montague
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
  • Oceana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Hesperia
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Ferry
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Ferry is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry
    • Cobmoosa
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cobmoosa is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobmoosa
      • Cobmoosa has also been known as:
      • Cob Moo Sa
    • Walkerville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Elbridge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Elbridge is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
    • New Era
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Rothbury
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Shelby
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Hart
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Hart is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hart
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,089 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hart <1>
    • Mears
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Camp Claybanks ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Camp Claybanks is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Claybanks
    • French Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • French Town is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Town
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dayton Center, with the one closest to Dayton Center listed first.
    • Conklin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Wright
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Coopersville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Nunica
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)

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

Cemeteries Near Dayton Center ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dayton Center.

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 Dayton Center - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Dayton Center Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Evans Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Bull Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Clark Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Newago County Poor Farm Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • East Hesperia Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Michaels Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Reeman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Sherman Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • West Hesperia Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (194 more) ...
    • Christ the King Catholic Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenwood Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Lincoln Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>

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

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

  • Fremont
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Fremont is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
    • Former name for Fremont:
    • Fremont Center
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
  • Aetna
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Aetna is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
  • Hesperia
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Brookside
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
  • Holton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Alleyton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Alleyton is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleyton
  • Newaygo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • White Cloud
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Bridgeton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
  • Twin Lake
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Ferry
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Ferry is located in Oceana County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry
  • Volney
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Volney is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Volney
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Grant
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Brohman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Brohman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brohman
      • Former names for Brohman:
      • Dingman
      • Otia
    • Cobmoosa
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Cobmoosa is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobmoosa
      • Cobmoosa has also been known as:
      • Cob Moo Sa

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

Newspapers Published in Dayton Center ...

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 97 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dayton Center.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dayton Center, 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 Dayton Center.

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 Dayton Center:

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 Dayton Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Dayton Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.