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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 Kalkaska (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 Kalkaska. 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 doctors 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.

Kalkaska is located in Kalkaska County and is the County Seat.

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 Kalkaska County: Antrim, Crawford, Grand Traverse, Missaukee, Otsego, Roscommon & Wexford.

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

  • Kalkaska County     (The home county of Kalkaska)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Lodi
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
    • Barker Creek
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
    • Sigma
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
    • Spencer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
    • Rapid City
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • South Boardman
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Westwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Angling
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Angling is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angling
    • Torch River
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
    • Deibert
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Deibert is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deibert
    • Sharon ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sharon is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
      • Sharon has also been known as:
      • Big Oley
      • Jam One
    • Fife Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Antrim County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Alden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mancelona
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Wetzel ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wetzel is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
      • Wetzel has also been known as:
      • Wetzell
    • Bellaire
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Elk Rapids
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Kewadin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Alba
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Finkton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Finkton is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
    • Central Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Eastport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Ellsworth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Charlevoix County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Goo ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Goo is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goo
    • East Jordan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • McIntyre Landing
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • McIntyre Landing is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre Landing
    • Deward ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Deward is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
    • Frederic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Rasmus
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Rasmus is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rasmus
    • Grayling
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Skyline Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Skyline Village is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline Village
    • Pere Cheney ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Pere Cheney is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pere Cheney
      • Pere Cheney has also been known as:
      • Center Plains
      • Cheney
    • Bucks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bucks is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks
  • Grand Traverse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Tunk ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
    • Mabel
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Mabel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Williamsburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Angel
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
      • Angel has also been known as:
      • Angel Station
      • Angell Station
    • Devils Elbow
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Devils Elbow is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Elbow
    • Acme
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Mayfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
    • Walton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Walton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
      • Walton has also been known as:
      • Walton Junction
    • Mapleton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
    • Kingsley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Kingsley is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,618 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kingsley <1>
    • Summit City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Summit City is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit City
    • Old Mission
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Leelanau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Greilickville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Greilickville is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greilickville
    • Hatchs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Hatchs is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs
    • Bingham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
    • Manseau ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Manseau is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manseau
    • Peshawbestown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Peshawbestown is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peshawbestown
    • Suttons Bay
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Omena
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Solon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Solon is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
    • Isadore ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Isadore is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadore
  • Missaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Stittsville ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Stittsville is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stittsville
    • Moorestown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Moorestown is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorestown
    • Cutcheon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Cutcheon is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutcheon
    • Stratford ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Stratford is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
    • Star City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Star City is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
    • Lake City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Jennings
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Jennings is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings
    • Merritt
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Waters
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Elmira
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Arbutus Beach
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
    • Pearll City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Pearll City is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
    • Lower Chub Landing ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Lower Chub Landing is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Chub Landing
    • Hallock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Hallock is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
  • Roscommon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Tent City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Tent City is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tent City
    • Higgins Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Hillcrest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Hillcrest is located in Roscommon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
  • Wexford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Kalkaska, with the one closest to Kalkaska listed first.
    • Baxter
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Baxter is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
    • Manton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bond's Mills ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Bond's Mills is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond's Mills
    • Buckley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Kalkaska ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Kalkaska.

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

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

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

  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Maplegrove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Lodi Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Excelsior Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Clearwater Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Mary Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Oliver Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • South Boardman Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Cold Spring Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Westwood Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Deibert Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Garfield Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (119 more) ...

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 Kalkaska had a population of 1,161 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Kalkaska had a population of 2,083 people.

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

  • Crofton
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Crofton is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crofton
  • Leetsville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Leetsville is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leetsville
  • Lodi
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
  • Barker Creek
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
  • South Boardman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Westwood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
  • Sharon ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sharon is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
    • Sharon has also been known as:
    • Big Oley
    • Jam One
  • Williamsburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Antrim
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Antrim is located in Antrim County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antrim
  • Fife Lake
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Mancelona
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Bates
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Bates is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bates
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Wetzel ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wetzel is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
      • Wetzel has also been known as:
      • Wetzell
    • Yuba
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Yuba is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Kalkaska ...

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 78 newspapers that have been published in the area around Kalkaska.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Kalkaska. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Kalkaska and those printed in the larger area surrounding Kalkaska.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4> of Kalkaska.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Kalkaska:

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