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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 Fruit Ridge 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 Fruit Ridge 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 Fruit Ridge 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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Fruit Ridge Center: Fruit Rdg. Ctr. (or less commonly used: Fruit Rdg. Cen., Fruit Rdg. Cent. or Fruit Rdg. Cntr.)

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.

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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

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

  • Kent County     (The home county of Fruit Ridge Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fruit Ridge Center, with the one closest to Fruit Ridge Center listed first.
    • Lisbon
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lisbon is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Sparta
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Kent City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Kinney
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Kinney is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
    • Comstock Park
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Belmont
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Casnovia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Walker
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Northview
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Northview is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
    • Edgerton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
    • Rockford
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Grand Rapids
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fruit Ridge Center, with the one closest to Fruit Ridge Center listed first.
    • New Salem
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
    • Burnips
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Burnips is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
      • Former name for Burnips:
      • Burnip's Corners
    • Moline
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • Dorr
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Diamond Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
    • Hilliards
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • Fillmore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Fillmore is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fruit Ridge Center, with the one closest to Fruit Ridge Center listed first.
    • Smyrna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Belding
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Elmdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
  • Mecosta County
    • Morley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fruit Ridge Center, with the one closest to Fruit Ridge Center listed first.
    • Pierson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Howard City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Trufant
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Gowen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Coral
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Eureka Place
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
    • Amble
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
    • Langston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fruit Ridge Center, with the one closest to Fruit Ridge Center listed first.
    • Canada Corners
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Ravenna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Slocum
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Bailey
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Morgan Corners
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Sullivan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Wolf Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Fruitport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Muskegon Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Norton Shores
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Brunswick
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
    • Holton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskegon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fruit Ridge Center, with the one closest to Fruit Ridge Center listed first.
    • Ashland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Sun
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Grant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Bridgeton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Newaygo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Bishop
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Croton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Sitka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sitka is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
    • Riverview
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Brookside
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Fremont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Reeman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Reeman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeman
    • Wooster
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fruit Ridge Center, with the one closest to Fruit Ridge Center listed first.
    • Wright
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Conklin
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Marne
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Coopersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lamont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Eastmanville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Allendale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Jenison
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Bauer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Nunica
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Rusk
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rusk is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
    • Hudsonville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • South Blendon
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon

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

Cemeteries Near Fruit Ridge Center ...

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

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

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

  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Lisbon Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Cross Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Alpine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Big Springs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Wells Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Englishville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Fairplains Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Greenwood Cemetery is located in Sparta.
  • St. Francis Xavier's Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Holy Trinity Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (276 more) ...
    • Alpine Twp. Pine Grove Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Myers Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • St. Mary's Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Fruit Ridge Center in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Fruit Ridge Center.

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

  • Wright
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Wright is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
  • Lisbon
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Lisbon is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
  • Englishville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Englishville is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englishville
  • Reno
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Reno is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Herrington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Herrington is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrington
  • Sparta
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Alpine
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Alpine is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
  • Conklin
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Kinney
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Kinney is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
  • Kent City
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Harrisburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Harrisburg is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
  • Belmont
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Casnovia
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Coopersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Tallmadge
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Tallmadge is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallmadge

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

Newspapers Published in Fruit Ridge 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 56 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fruit Ridge Center.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fruit Ridge Center, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fruit Ridge Center.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start 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 Fruit Ridge 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 Fruit Ridge Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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- Fruit Ridge Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.