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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 Hilliards (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 Hilliards. 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.

Hilliards is located in Allegan County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Allegan County: Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa & Van Buren.

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

  • Allegan County     (The home county of Hilliards)
  • Barry County
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hilliards, with the one closest to Hilliards listed first.
    • Elmdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Campbell Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Clarksville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Clarksville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksville
      • Clarksville is located in Ionia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 395 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clarksville <1>
    • Lake Odessa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Odessa have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Odessa
      • Lake Odessa is located in Ionia County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,041 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lake Odessa <1>
  • Kalamazoo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hilliards, with the one closest to Hilliards listed first.
    • Alamo
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • East Cooper
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Highland Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Richland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Richland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
      • Richland is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 847 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Richland <1>
    • Parchment
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Parchment have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parchment
      • Parchment is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,825 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parchment <1>
    • Westwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Westwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
      • Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
    • South Gull Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Gull Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
      • South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Yorkville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Yorkville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
      • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Yorkville
      • From Hilliards to Yorkville
    • Eastwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eastwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
      • Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Kalamazoo
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Oshtemo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Comstock
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Comstock have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
      • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
  • Kent County
  • Ottawa County
  • Van Buren County

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

Cemeteries Near Hilliards ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hilliards.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • St. Stanislaus' Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Stanislaus' Catholic Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Stanislaus' Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lakeview Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lakeview Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lakeview Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Maplewood Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Maplewood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Tanner Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tanner Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tanner Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Dorr Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dorr Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dorr Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Ingerson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ingerson Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ingerson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Elmwood Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Elmwood Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Jones Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jones Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jones Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • North Dorr Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the North Dorr Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the North Dorr Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Selkirk Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Selkirk Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Selkirk Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (294 more) ...
    • St. Mary's Catholic Church of New Salem Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Mary's Catholic Church of New Salem Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Mary's Catholic Church of New Salem Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Poplar Hill Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Poplar Hill Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Poplar Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hilliards had a population of 163 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Hopkins
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hopkins have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopkins
    • Hopkins is located in Allegan County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 605 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hopkins <1>
  • Dorr
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Wayland
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wayland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayland
    • Wayland is located in Allegan County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,237 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wayland <1>
  • Bradley
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bradley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
    • Bradley is located in Allegan County
  • Moline
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • North Dorr
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North Dorr have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
    • North Dorr is located in Kent County
  • New Salem
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • South Monterey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Shelbyville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Corning
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Corning have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
    • Corning is located in Allegan County
  • Ross
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ross have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
    • Ross is located in Kent County
  • Corinth
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Corinth. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
    • Corinth is located in Kent County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Corinth
    • From Hilliards to Corinth
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Hilliards ...

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 186 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hilliards.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hilliards, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hilliards.

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 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 Hilliards:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Hilliards. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for Allegan County: www.allegancounty.org/

The official website for State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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 Hilliards, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>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- Hilliards) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Hilliards. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.6749, Longitude: -85.7280    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025