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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 Foster City (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 Foster City. 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 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.

Foster City is located in Dickinson 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 Dickinson County: Iron, Marquette, Menominee, Florence (WI) & Marinette (WI).

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

  • Dickinson County     (The home county of Foster City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster City, with the one closest to Foster City listed first.
    • Felch
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Felch Mountain
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Felch Mountain is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felch Mountain
    • Ralph
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Turner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Turner is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
    • Loretto
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Norway
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Norway is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,714 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norway <1>
    • Vulcan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Quinnesec
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Sagola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Iron Mountain
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Channing
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kingsford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Floodwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Floodwood is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floodwood
  • Delta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster City, with the one closest to Foster City listed first.
    • Saint Nicholas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Saint Nicholas is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Nicholas
    • Cornell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Schaffer
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Schaffer is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schaffer
    • Bark River
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Flat Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Flat Rock is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Rock
    • Rock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Lathrop
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lathrop is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lathrop
    • Chandler
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Chandler is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chandler
    • Trombly
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Trombly is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trombly
      • Trombly has also been known as:
      • Trombley
    • Narenta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Narenta is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narenta
    • Beaver
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Beaver is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
    • Hyde
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Hyde is located in Delta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hyde
  • Iron County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster City, with the one closest to Foster City listed first.
    • Mansfield ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mansfield is located in Iron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mansfield
    • Crystal Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Mastodon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Mastodon is located in Iron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mastodon
    • Stager
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Stager is located in Iron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stager
    • Alpha
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Clinch ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Clinch is located in Iron County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinch
  • Marquette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster City, with the one closest to Foster City listed first.
    • Northland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Reade
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Reade is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reade
    • Arnold
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Watson ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Watson is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Austin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Austin is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
    • Gwinn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Witbeck
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Witbeck is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Witbeck
    • Helena
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Helena is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • McFarland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • McFarland is located in Marquette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McFarland
      • McFarland has also been known as:
      • McFarlands
    • Little Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Menominee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster City, with the one closest to Foster City listed first.
    • LaBranche
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • LaBranche is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaBranche
    • Dryads ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Dryads is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryads
    • Hermansville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Hermansville is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermansville
    • Faithorn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Faithorn is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faithorn
    • Blom
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Blom is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blom
    • Perronville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Perronville is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perronville
    • Powers
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Spalding
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Spalding is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spalding
    • Wilson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilson is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
    • Indiantown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Indiantown is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indiantown
      • Indiantown has also been known as:
      • Indian Town
    • Nadeau
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Nadeau is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nadeau
    • Harris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Carney
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Florence County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster City, with the one closest to Foster City listed first.
    • Spread Eagle
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Spread Eagle is located in Florence County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spread Eagle
    • Aurora
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Aurora is located in Florence County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
    • Commonwealth
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Commonwealth is located in Florence County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commonwealth
    • Florence
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Florence is located in Florence County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Florence
  • Marinette County (WI)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Foster City, with the one closest to Foster City listed first.
    • Niagara
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Niagara is located in Marinette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Niagara
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,535 people
    • Pembine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Pembine is located in Marinette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pembine
    • Dunbar
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Dunbar is located in Marinette County (WI)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbar

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

Cemeteries Near Foster City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Foster City.

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 Foster City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Foster City Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Felch Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Riverview Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Ralph Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Waucedah Twp. Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Norway Twp. Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Forest Home Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Quinnesec Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quinnesec Cemetery
    • The Quinnesec Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Breitung Twp. Cemetery
    • Kingsford - Quinnesec Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #840 <2>
  • Dickinson County Memorial Gardens Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Anthony Cemetery
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Iron Mtn. Cemetery Park
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Hillcrest Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (29 more) ...
    • Riverside Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • St. Marys Church Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Meyer Twp. Cemetery
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)

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 in 1895, Foster City had a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Hardwood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Hardwood is located in Dickinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardwood
  • Hylas ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Hylas is located in Dickinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hylas
  • Faunus ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Faunus is located in Menominee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faunus
  • Norway
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Norway is located in Dickinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norway
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,714 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norway <1>
  • Vulcan
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Waucedah
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Waucedah is located in Dickinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waucedah
  • Granite Bluff
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Granite Bluff is located in Dickinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granite Bluff
  • Merriman
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Merriman is located in Dickinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merriman
  • Randville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Randville is located in Dickinson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randville
  • Quinnesec
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Dryads ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Dryads is located in Menominee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryads
  • Pulp
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Pulp is located in Florence County (WI)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulp
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Iron Mountain
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Hermansville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Hermansville is located in Menominee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermansville
    • Sagola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Foster City ...

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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Foster City.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Foster City, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Foster City.

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 Foster City:

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