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

You might see Ensley Centre instead of Ensley 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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.

Ensley 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 Ensley Center. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ensley Center:

  • Newaygo County     (The home county of Ensley Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ensley Center, with the one closest to Ensley Center listed first.
    • Sun
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Croton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Riverview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Ashland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Grant
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Newaygo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bishop
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Bridgeton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • White Cloud
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Wooster
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
    • Fremont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Brookside
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Ramona
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ramona is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ensley Center, with the one closest to Ensley Center listed first.
    • Belding
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Smyrna
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Orleans
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Orleans is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
  • Isabella County
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ensley Center, with the one closest to Ensley Center listed first.
    • Sand Lake
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Springs
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Kent City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Casnovia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Edgerton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
    • Sparta
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Sheffield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sheffield is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Rockford
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Harvard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Harvard is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Lisbon
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lisbon is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Belmont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Comstock Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Northview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Northview is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
  • Mecosta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ensley Center, with the one closest to Ensley Center listed first.
    • Morley
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Borland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Rustford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
    • Stanwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Canadian Lakes
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • Halls Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
    • Big Rapids
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Mecosta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Rodney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Remus
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Paris
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Millbrook
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ensley Center, with the one closest to Ensley Center listed first.
    • Pierson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Howard City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Coral
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Trufant
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Amble
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
    • Gowen
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Lakeview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Langston
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Greenville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Entrican
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
    • Eureka Place
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
    • Six Lakes
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Sidney
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ensley Center, with the one closest to Ensley Center listed first.
    • Bailey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Canada Corners
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Slocum
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Ravenna
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Morgan Corners
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Brunswick
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
    • Holton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Sullivan
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Wolf Lake
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Twin Lake
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Fruitport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Oceana County
    • Hesperia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ensley Center, with the one closest to Ensley Center listed first.
    • Wright
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Conklin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Marne
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Coopersville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Lamont
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Eastmanville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Nunica
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jenison
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Allendale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Ensley Center ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ensley 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 Ensley Center - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • North Ensley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • St. John Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Crandall Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Sand Lake Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Christian Plains Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Pierson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Chubbuck Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Solon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Punches Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Croton Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (249 more) ...
    • St. Marys Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Gulp Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Idlewild Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)

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 Ensley Center in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ensley Center.

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

  • Sun
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Sun is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
  • Sand Lake
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Pierson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Croton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Croton is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
  • Cedar Springs
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Howard City
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Ashland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
  • Grant
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Bailey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Kent City
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Newaygo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Casnovia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Coral
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Sparta
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Edgerton
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton

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

Newspapers Published in Ensley 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 166 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ensley Center.

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

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