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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 Harrisburg (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 Harrisburg. 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 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.

Harrisburg is located in Ottawa 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 Ottawa County: Allegan, Kent & Muskegon.

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

  • Ottawa County     (The home county of Harrisburg)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
    • Conklin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Wright
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Coopersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Marne
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Eastmanville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Lamont
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Nunica
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Allendale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Robinson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Robinson is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
    • Rusk
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Rusk is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
    • Bauer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Ferrysburg
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Spring Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Allegan County
    • New Salem
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
    • Casnovia
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lisbon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lisbon is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Kent City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Sparta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Kinney
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Kinney is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
    • Comstock Park
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Edgerton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
    • Belmont
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Walker
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Springs
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Rockford
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Northview
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Northview is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northview
    • Grand Rapids
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Mecosta County
    • Morley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
    • Pierson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Howard City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Coral
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Trufant
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Gowen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Amble
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
    • Slocum
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Canada Corners
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Ravenna
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Bailey
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Morgan Corners
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Sullivan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Wolf Lake
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Fruitport
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Brunswick
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
    • Holton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Twin Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskegon Heights
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Muskegon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Harrisburg, with the one closest to Harrisburg listed first.
    • Ashland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Grant
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Bridgeton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Sun
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Sitka
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sitka is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
    • Bishop
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Brookside
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Newaygo
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Reeman
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Reeman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeman
    • Fremont
      (19 miles [30.6 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>
    • Croton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Riverview
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Wooster
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
  • Oceana County
    • Hesperia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)

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

Cemeteries Near Harrisburg ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harrisburg.

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

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

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

  • Bennet Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • McNitt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • St. Francis Xavier's Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Hilton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bell Place Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • St. Catherine's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Ravenna Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • South Casnovia Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Big Springs Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Lisbon Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (250 more) ...
    • Seamans Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Moorland Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Shippy Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)

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 Harrisburg had a population of 23 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Ravenna
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Conklin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Lisbon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Lisbon is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
  • Casnovia
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wright
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Wright is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
  • Kent City
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Bailey
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Moorland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Moorland is located in Muskegon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorland
  • Reno
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Reno is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Sparta
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Ashland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
  • Dennison
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Dennison is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennison
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Coopersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Herrington
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Herrington is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrington
    • Sullivan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan

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

Newspapers Published in Harrisburg ...

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 98 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harrisburg.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harrisburg, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harrisburg.

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 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 Harrisburg:

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