RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Michigan >> Genesee County >> Fenton >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Fenton (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 Fenton. 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 northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors 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.

Fenton is primarily located in Genesee County. A portion of Fenton extends into Livingston County and Oakland 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 Genesee County: Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland, Saginaw, Shiawassee & Tuscola.

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

  • Genesee County     (The home county of Fenton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
    • Lakeside
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Lakeside is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
    • Bayport Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Bayport Park is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayport Park
    • Lake Fenton
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Lake Fenton is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Fenton
    • Linden
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Argentine
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Argentine is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argentine
    • Grand Blanc
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Gaines
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Swartz Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Burton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Atlas
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Atlas is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlas
    • Goodrich
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Duffield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Duffield is located in Genesee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffield
  • Ingham County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
    • Webberville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Williamston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Lapeer County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
    • Hadley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Metamora
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Hunters Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hunters Creek is located in Lapeer County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Creek
    • Lapeer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Columbiaville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
    • Tyrone
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Tyrone is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
    • Hallers Corners
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Hallers Corners is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallers Corners
    • Parshallville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Parshallville is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshallville
    • Hartland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Deer Creek
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Deer Creek is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
    • Cohoctah
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Cohoctah is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cohoctah
    • Oak Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Oak Grove is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Howell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Howell is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,648 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Howell <1>
    • Brighton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Fowlerville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Green Oak
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Green Oak is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Oak
    • Chubb's Corners ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Chubb's Corners is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chubb's Corners
  • Oakland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
    • Holly
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Holly is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,079 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Holly <1>
    • Five Points
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Five Points is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
    • Newark
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Newark is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
    • Groveland Corners
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Groveland Corners is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveland Corners
    • Hickory Ridge
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Hickory Ridge is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Ridge
    • Davisburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Clyde
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Austin Corners
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Austin Corners is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin Corners
    • West Highland
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • West Highland is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Highland
    • Seven Harbors
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Seven Harbors is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seven Harbors
    • White Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Andersonville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Andersonville is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andersonville
  • Saginaw County
    • Layton Corners
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Layton Corners is located in Saginaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Layton Corners
  • Shiawassee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
    • Byron
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Byron is located in Shiawassee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Byron <1>
    • Durand
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Durand is located in Shiawassee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durand
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,269 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Durand <1>
    • Lennon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Vernon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Bancroft
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Newburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Newburg is located in Shiawassee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
    • Nicholson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Nicholson is located in Shiawassee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholson
    • Juddville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Juddville is located in Shiawassee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Juddville
    • Morrice
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Corunna
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Middletown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Middletown is located in Shiawassee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
    • New Lothrop
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Washtenaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fenton, with the one closest to Fenton listed first.
    • Salem
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Salem is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
    • Dover
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Dover is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
    • Emery
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Emery is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emery
    • Hudson Mills
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Hudson Mills is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson Mills

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

Cemeteries Near Fenton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fenton.

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

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

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

  • Fenton Twp. Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • St. John's Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Gardner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Brookins Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Oak Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Clough Hill Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Gage Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Long Lake Landing Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Beebe Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lakeside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (332 more) ...
    • Kimball Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • O'dell Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Gardner Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Fenton had a population of 2,182 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Fenton had a population of 11,374 people.

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

  • Linden
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Tyrone
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Tyrone is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
  • Holly
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Holly is located in Oakland County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,079 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Holly <1>
  • Argentine
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Argentine is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argentine
  • Rankin
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Rankin is located in Genesee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankin
  • Parshallville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Parshallville is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parshallville
  • Clyde
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Davisburg
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Grand Blanc
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Deer Creek
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Deer Creek is located in Livingston County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deer Creek
  • Hartland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • White Lake
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Byron
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Byron is located in Shiawassee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 545 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Byron <1>
    • Cohoctah
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Cohoctah is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cohoctah
    • Highland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Fenton ...

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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fenton.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Fenton. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Fenton and those printed in the larger area surrounding Fenton.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3> of Fenton.

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 helpful 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 Fenton:

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 Fenton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Fenton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.