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 Litchfield (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 Litchfield. 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.
Litchfield is located in Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County: Steuben (IN), Branch, Calhoun, Jackson, Lenawee, Fulton (OH) & Williams (OH).
Below are the counties that are near Litchfield. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Litchfield:
- Hillsdale County (The home county of Litchfield)
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Mosherville
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mosherville is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mosherville
- Allen
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jonesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hillsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Moscow
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Moscow is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscow
- North Adams
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- North Adams is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Adams
- Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
- Steamburg
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Steamburg is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steamburg
- Jerome
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Reading
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Osseo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Somerset Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Somerset Center is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerset Center
- Montgomery
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Montgomery is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Camden
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Branch County
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Quincy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fisher
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fisher is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
- Girard
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Girard is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Trailtree Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Trailtree Village is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trailtree Village
- Coldwater
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hodunk
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Batavia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Batavia is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
- Canada Shores
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Canada Shores is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Shores
- Union City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Ray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Hatmaker
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hatmaker is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatmaker
- Matteson
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Matteson is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
- Sherwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sherwood is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Homer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Tekonsha
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Albion
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Marengo
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Marengo is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marengo
- Burlington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Burlington is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 277 people
- Marshall
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rice Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rice Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rice Creek
- Ceresco
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
- Duck Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Duck Lake is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Lake
- Athens
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Beadle Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
- Joppa
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Joppa is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
- East Leroy
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Charlesworth
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Charlesworth is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesworth
- Olivet
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Bellevue
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ingham County
- Onondaga
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Concord
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hanover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Horton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Spring Arbor
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Parma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Liberty is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
- Sandstone
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Sandstone is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandstone
- South Jackson
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- South Jackson is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Jackson
- Devereaux
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Devereaux is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devereaux
- Woodville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Woodville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodville
- Clarklake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Vandercook Lake
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vandercook Lake is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandercook Lake
- Jackson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jackson is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32,374 people
- Former name for Jackson:
- Jacksonopolis
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
- Kalamazoo County
- Fulton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Fulton is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Lenawee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Addison
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Cement City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Addison Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Addison Junction is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison Junction
- Manitou Beach
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Devils Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Devils Lake is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Lake
- Manitou Beach - Devils Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rollin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Rollin is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rollin
- Hudson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cambridge Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cambridge Junction is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cambridge Junction
- Onsted
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Clayton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton is located in Lenawee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 328 people
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Factoryville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
- Colon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Colon is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,155 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colon <1>
- Leonidas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Steuben County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Clear Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Clear Lake is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Ray
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Ray is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ray
- Fremont
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- York
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- York is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for York
- Jamestown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Jamestown is located in Steuben County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Angola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Orland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Williams County (OH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Northwest
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Northwest is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwest
- Cooney
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cooney is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooney
- Pioneer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ainger
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Ainger is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Columbia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Columbia is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
- Jim Town
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Jim Town is located in Williams County (OH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jim Town
- Alvordton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Litchfield, see our County-by-County Page for Litchfield.
Cemeteries Near Litchfield ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Litchfield.
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 Litchfield - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Litchfield covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Litchfield Village Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Saratoga Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sand Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Case Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- King Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Todd Town Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Shooks Prairie Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Johnson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mosherville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Buck Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fisher Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (351 more) ...
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Butler Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Whig Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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 Litchfield had a population of 601 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Litchfield had a population of 1,328 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Litchfield, with the one closest to Litchfield listed first.
- Allen
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Butler
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Butler is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
- South Butler
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- South Butler is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Butler
- Jonesville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Homer
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pulaski
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pulaski is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Clarendon
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Clarendon is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarendon
- Quincy
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bankers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bankers is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankers
- Hillsdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Concord
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Condit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Condit is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Condit
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Hanover
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- North Adams
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- North Adams is located in Hillsdale County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Adams
- Population from the 2020 Census: 461 people
- Eckford
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Eckford is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eckford
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Litchfield. See our List of 1890's Communities around Litchfield.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Litchfield ...
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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Litchfield.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Litchfield. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Litchfield and those printed in the larger area surrounding Litchfield.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4> of Litchfield.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Litchfield:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Hillsdale County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Branch County
- Calhoun County
- Eaton County
- Ingham County
- Jackson County
- Kalamazoo County
- Lenawee County
- Saint Joseph County
- Steuben County
- Williams County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
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 Litchfield, 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 from Point A (ie- Litchfield) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |