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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 Hudsonville (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 Hudsonville. 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.

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

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

  • Ottawa County     (The home county of Hudsonville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hudsonville, with the one closest to Hudsonville listed first.
    • Jamestown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
      • Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
    • South Blendon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
    • Jenison
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bauer
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bauer have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
    • Forest Grove Station
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
      • Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
    • Drenthe
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Drenthe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
      • Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
    • Allendale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Allendale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendale
      • Allendale is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Allendale <1>
    • Zeeland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lamont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
    • Rusk
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
      • Rusk is located in Ottawa County
    • Noordeloos
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noordeloos
      • Noordeloos is located in Ottawa County
    • Eastmanville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hudsonville, with the one closest to Hudsonville listed first.
    • New Salem
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
    • Burnips
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
      • Burnips is located in Allegan County
      • Former name for Burnips:
      • Burnip's Corners
    • Dorr
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Diamond Springs
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
      • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
    • Moline
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
    • Fillmore
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
      • Fillmore is located in Allegan County
    • Hilliards
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
    • Graafschap
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graafschap
      • Graafschap is located in Allegan County
    • Hamilton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Hopkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Wayland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (19 miles [30.6 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
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hudsonville, with the one closest to Hudsonville listed first.
    • Middleville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Middleville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleville
      • Middleville is located in Barry County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,510 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Middleville <1>
    • Irving
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
      • Irving is located in Barry County
    • Freeport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Freeport have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Freeport
      • Freeport is located in Barry County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 503 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Freeport <1>
  • Ionia County
    • Elmdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hudsonville, with the one closest to Hudsonville listed first.
    • Grandville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Burlingame Heights
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
      • Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
    • Burlingame
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
      • Burlingame is located in Kent County
    • Wyoming
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Beverly
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
      • Beverly is located in Kent County
    • Byron Center
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • North Dorr
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
    • Carlisle
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carlisle have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
      • Carlisle is located in Kent County
    • Clyde Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
      • Clyde Park is located in Kent County
    • Galewood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
      • Galewood is located in Kent County
    • Urbandale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbandale
      • Urbandale is located in Kent County
    • Walker
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Walker have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
      • Walker is located in Kent County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 25,265 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Walker <1>
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hudsonville, with the one closest to Hudsonville listed first.
    • Ravenna
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ravenna have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenna
      • Ravenna is located in Muskegon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,276 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ravenna <1>
    • Fruitport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fruitport have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fruitport
      • Fruitport is located in Muskegon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,165 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fruitport <1>
    • Sullivan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
    • Canada Corners
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
    • Morgan Corners
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morgan Corners have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
    • Bailey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bailey have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
      • Bailey is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bailey <1>
    • Norton Shores
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Norton Shores have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norton Shores
      • Norton Shores is located in Muskegon County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 24,623 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norton Shores <1>
    • Wolf Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Wolf Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
    • Muskegon Heights
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Roosevelt Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Hudsonville ...

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 235 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hudsonville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Hudsonville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Hudsonville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Hudsonville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3> of Hudsonville.

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 Hudsonville:

Cemeteries Near Hudsonville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hudsonville.

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 Hudsonville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Shackhuddle Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shackhuddle Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Shackhuddle Cemetery is located outside and to the east of Hudsonville.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shackhuddle Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2158815 <4>
  • Georgetown Twp. Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Zutphen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Zutphen Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Zutphen Cemetery
  • Jamestown Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jamestown Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jamestown Cemetery
  • Hanley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hanley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hanley Cemetery
  • Floral View Memorial Gardens
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Floral View Memorial Gardens have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Floral View Memorial Gardens
  • Jenison Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Jenison Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Jenison Cemetery
  • Bauer Road Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bauer Road Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bauer Road Cemetery
  • Blendon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Blendon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Blendon Cemetery
  • Beaverdam Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Beaverdam Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Beaverdam Cemetery
  • Forest Grove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Forest Grove Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Forest Grove Cemetery
  • Vriesland Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (261 more) ...
    • Star Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Star Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Star Cemetery
    • Church Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Church Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Church Cemetery
    • Old Vriesland Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Old Vriesland Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Old Vriesland Cemetery

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hudsonville had a population of 208 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Hudsonville had a population of 7,391 people.

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

  • Zutphen
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Zutphen have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zutphen
    • Zutphen is located in Ottawa County
  • Jamestown
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
  • South Blendon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
    • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
  • Beaverdam
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beaverdam have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverdam
    • Beaverdam is located in Ottawa County
  • Forest Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Forest Grove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
    • Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
  • Bauer
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bauer have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
  • Jenison
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Vriesland
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vriesland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vriesland
    • Vriesland is located in Ottawa County
  • Grandville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Gitchel
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gitchel have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gitchel
    • Gitchel is located in Ottawa County
  • Drenthe
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Drenthe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
    • Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
  • Pearline
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pearline have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearline
    • Pearline is located in Ottawa County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Borculo
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Borculo have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borculo
      • Borculo is located in Ottawa County
    • Zeeland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • New Salem
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County

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

The official website for Hudsonville: www.hudsonville.org/

The official website for Ottawa County: www.co.ottawa.mi.us/

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>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 drawn from Point A (ie- Hudsonville) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Hudsonville. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.8682, Longitude: -85.8653    
<4>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.
<5>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 Hudsonville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024