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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 Evans (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 Evans. 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 southeast 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 south.

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 south 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.

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

  • Kent County     (The home county of Evans)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Evans, with the one closest to Evans listed first.
    • Harvard
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Harvard is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Sheffield
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Sheffield is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Cedar Springs
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Edgerton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
    • Rockford
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sand Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Grattan
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Grattan is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grattan
    • Cannonsburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Parnell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Parnell is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
    • Belmont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Northview
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Northview is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
    • Sparta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Barry County
    • Freeport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Evans, with the one closest to Evans listed first.
    • Belding
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Smyrna
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Orleans
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Orleans is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
    • Shiloh
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Shiloh is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
    • Woods Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
    • Saranac
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Palo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Palo is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
    • Ionia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • South Ionia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • South Ionia is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
    • Elmdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
    • Clarksville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Campbell Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
  • Isabella County
  • Mecosta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Evans, with the one closest to Evans listed first.
    • Morley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Rustford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
    • Borland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Stanwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Halls Corner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
    • Canadian Lakes
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • 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 Evans, with the one closest to Evans listed first.
    • Pierson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Gowen
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Trufant
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Coral
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Eureka Place
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
    • Howard City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Langston
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Amsden
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Amsden is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsden
    • Sidney
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Amble
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
    • Entrican
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Evans, with the one closest to Evans listed first.
    • Bailey
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Canada Corners
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Slocum
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Ravenna
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Morgan Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Sullivan
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Evans, with the one closest to Evans listed first.
    • Sun
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Ashland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Croton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Grant
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Riverview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Newaygo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Bridgeton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Bishop
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • White Cloud
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookside
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Fremont
      (30 miles [48.3 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>
    • Wooster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Evans, with the one closest to Evans listed first.
    • Wright
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Marne
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Conklin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Coopersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Jenison
      (26 miles [41.8 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Allendale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bauer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Hudsonville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Evans ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Evans.

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 Evans - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • De Graw Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • East Nelson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Horton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Margaret's Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Courtland Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Tower Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • White Swan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oakfield Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Punches Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Cedar Springs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Briggs Family Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (270 more) ...
    • Old Rockford Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Rockford Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Marshall Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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 Evans had a population of 35 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Sheffield
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Sheffield is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
  • Harvard
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Harvard is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
  • Cedar Springs
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Edgerton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Edgerton is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
  • Rockford
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Sand Lake
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Pierson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Grattan
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Grattan is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grattan
  • Gowen
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Cannonsburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Trufant
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Parnell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Parnell is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parnell
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Greenville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Belmont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Chauncey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Chauncey is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chauncey

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

Newspapers Published in Evans ...

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 211 newspapers that have been published in the area around Evans.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Evans:

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