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 Elmira (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 Elmira. 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 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.
Elmira is primarily located in Otsego County. A portion of Elmira extends into Antrim 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 Otsego County: Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Kalkaska, Montmorency & Oscoda.
Below are the counties that are near Elmira. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elmira:
- Otsego County (The home county of Elmira)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Hallock
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hallock is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
- Berryville ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Berryville is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Gaylord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Vanderbilt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pearll City
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pearll City is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
- Arbutus Beach
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
- Sparr
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Sparr is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparr
- Waters
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Green Timbers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Green Timbers is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Timbers
- Lower Chub Landing ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lower Chub Landing is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Chub Landing
- Johannesburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hetherton
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hetherton is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hetherton
- Antrim County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Alba
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wetzel ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wetzel is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
- Wetzel has also been known as:
- Wetzell
- Finkton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Finkton is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
- Mancelona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bellaire
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Central Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ellsworth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Clam Lake ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
- Alden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Eastport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Kewadin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Elk Rapids
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Charlevoix County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Boyne Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Goo ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Goo is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goo
- Boyne City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
- Former names for Boyne City:
- Bay Springs
- Boyne
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
- Walloon Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- East Jordan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Horton Bay
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Horton Bay is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton Bay
- Zenith Heights
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Zenith Heights is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith Heights
- Ironton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
- Bay Shore
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Bay Shore is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Shore
- Charlevoix
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Norwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
- Cheboygan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Wolverine
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wildwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Wildwood is located in Cheboygan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Burt Lake
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Indian River
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Afton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fingerboard Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fingerboard Corner is located in Cheboygan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fingerboard Corner
- Crawford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Deward ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Deward is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
- Frederic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bucks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bucks is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks
- McIntyre Landing
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- McIntyre Landing is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre Landing
- Grayling
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rasmus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Rasmus is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rasmus
- Emmet County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Petoskey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Bay Harbor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bay View
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kegomic ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Kegomic is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegomic
- Conway
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Oden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ponshewaing
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Ponshewaing is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponshewaing
- Ramona Park
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Ramona Park is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona Park
- Roaring Brook
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Roaring Brook is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring Brook
- Wequetonsing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Wequetonsing is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetonsing
- Alanson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Forest Beach
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Forest Beach is located in Emmet County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Beach
- Harbor Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Grand Traverse County
- Tunk ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
- Kalkaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Westwood
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Rapid City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Kalkaska
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Torch River
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
- Angling
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Angling is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angling
- Sigma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
- Barker Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
- Montmorency County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Vienna Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Vienna Corners is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna Corners
- Bigelow
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Bigelow is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Vienna Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Vienna Junction is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna Junction
- Lewiston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Big Rock ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Big Rock is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Garland Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Garland Village is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland Village
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elmira, see our County-by-County Page for Elmira.
Cemeteries Near Elmira ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elmira.
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 Elmira - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elmira covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- St. Thomas Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Maple Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Maple Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Hallock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hayes Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Star Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Okiron Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- St. Augustine Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Boyne Valley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hudson Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (106 more) ...
- Rock Elm Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Chestonia Twp. #1 Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bagley Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Elmira had a population of 228 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elmira, with the one closest to Elmira listed first.
- Boyne Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Alba
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gaylord
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Vanderbilt
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Chestonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Chestonia is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestonia
- Wetzel ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wetzel is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
- Wetzel has also been known as:
- Wetzell
- Otsego Lake
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Otsego Lake is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otsego Lake
- Boyne City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
- Former names for Boyne City:
- Bay Springs
- Boyne
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
- Finkton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Finkton is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
- Waters
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- East Jordan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Clarion
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Clarion is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarion
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Mancelona
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Advance
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Advance is located in Charlevoix County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance
- Antrim
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Antrim is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antrim
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elmira. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elmira.
Newspapers Published in Elmira ...
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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elmira.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elmira, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elmira.
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 Elmira:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Otsego County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Antrim County
- Charlevoix County
- Cheboygan County
- Crawford County
- Emmet County
- Grand Traverse County
- Kalkaska County
- Montmorency 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 Elmira, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Elmira) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |