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 East Paris (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 East Paris. 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 East Paris ...
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 East Paris: E. Paris
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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals 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.
East Paris is located in Kent 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 Kent County: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo & Ottawa.
Below are the counties that are near East Paris. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to East Paris:
- Kent County (The home county of East Paris)
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Kentwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Grand Rapids
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dutton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dutton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Ada
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hills
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hills is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Grand Rapids
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cutlerville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Burlingame
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Burlingame is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Clyde Park
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Clyde Park is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
- Galewood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Galewood is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
- Urbandale
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Urbandale is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbandale
- Wyoming
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Beverly
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Beverly is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Moline
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Dorr
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Wayland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Burnips
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Burnips is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
- Former name for Burnips:
- Burnip's Corners
- Hilliards
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Bradley
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Bradley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Shelbyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Hopkins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Diamond Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
- South Monterey
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- South Monterey is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
- Martin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Watson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Middleville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Freeport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Irving
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Irving is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Hastings
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Woodland is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Cloverdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Prairieville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Morgan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Morgan is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Delton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Cedar Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Doster
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Doster is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Woodbury
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Woodbury is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Sunfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Elmdale
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Elmdale is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
- Clarksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Campbell Corners
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
- Saranac
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Smyrna
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Belding
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Odessa
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Orleans
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Orleans is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- South Ionia
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- South Ionia is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
- Ionia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- West Sebewa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- West Sebewa is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sebewa
- Shiloh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Woods Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Greenville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka Place
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
- Gowen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Pierson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Amsden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Amsden is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsden
- Trufant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Fenwick
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fenwick is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
- Muskegon County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Canada Corners
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
- Ravenna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Slocum
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Slocum is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
- Bailey
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Morgan Corners
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
- Sullivan
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
- Newaygo County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Sun
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sun is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
- Ashland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ashland is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Ottawa County
- The following are listed by their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Jenison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Marne
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Hudsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Forest Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
- Bauer
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bauer is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Forest Grove Station
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
- South Blendon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
- Wright
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Wright is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
- Lamont
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lamont is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
- Allendale
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Drenthe
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
- Eastmanville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to East Paris, see our County-by-County Page for East Paris.
Cemeteries Near East Paris ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of East Paris.
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 East Paris - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for East Paris covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Teeple Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Martin Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Graceland Mausoleum
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Cascade Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Garfield Park Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Rest Lawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pine Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (295 more) ...
- Little Cook Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Ada Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Oakhill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakhill Cemetery
- The Oakhill Cemetery has also been known as:
- Oak Hill Cemetery
- Valley City Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1263 <2>
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 East Paris had a population of 48 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from East Paris, with the one closest to East Paris listed first.
- Cascade
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Cascade is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cascade
- Dutton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Dutton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Ada
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Alaska
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Alaska is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alaska
- Whitneyville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Whitneyville is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitneyville
- Grand Rapids
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Labarge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Labarge is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Labarge
- Carlisle
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Carlisle is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Chauncey
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Chauncey is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chauncey
- Grandville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Byron Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ross
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ross is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Corinth
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Alto
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Belmont
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around East Paris. See our List of 1890's Communities around East Paris.
Newspapers Published in East Paris ...
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 281 newspapers that have been published in the area around East Paris.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of East Paris, 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 East Paris.
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 either 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 East Paris:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Kent County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Barry County
- Eaton County
- Ionia County
- Montcalm County
- Muskegon County
- Newaygo County
- Ottawa 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 East Paris, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- East Paris) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |