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 Mecosta (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 Mecosta. 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 and 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.
Mecosta is located in Mecosta 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 Mecosta County: Clare, Isabella, Lake, Montcalm, Newaygo & Osceola.
Below are the counties that are near Mecosta. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Mecosta:
- Mecosta County (The home county of Mecosta)
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Remus
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Canadian Lakes
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
- Halls Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
- Rodney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Chippewa Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Barryton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rustford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rustford is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
- Borland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Borland is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
- Stanwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Pogy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Pogy is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pogy
- Big Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Morley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clare County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lake is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
- Former name for Lake:
- Lake Station
- Farwell
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Clare
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake George
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lake George is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake George
- Hatton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Hatton is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatton
- Dover
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dover is located in Clare County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Gratiot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Riverdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Elm Hall
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Elwell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Sumner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Sherman City ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sherman City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
- Blanchard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Isabella
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
- Lake Isabella has also been known as:
- Lake Isabella village
- Weidman
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Brinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Brinton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
- Beal City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Winn
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Winn is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
- Strickland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Crawford
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Mount Pleasant
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rosebush
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Jordan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Vernon City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon City
- Kent County
- Sand Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Lake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Chase
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Nirvana
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Nirvana is located in Lake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nirvana
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Lakeview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Six Lakes
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wyman
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wyman is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Amble
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Amble is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
- Edmore
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Entrican
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Entrican is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
- Cedar Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
- Coral
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Howard City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- McBride
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Langston
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Langston is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Trufant
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Vestaburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
- Newaygo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Hawkins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hawkins is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins
- Croton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Croton is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
- Riverview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Riverview is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
- White Cloud
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Ramona
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Ramona is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
- Brohman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Brohman is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brohman
- Former names for Brohman:
- Dingman
- Otia
- Osceola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Orient
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Orient is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient
- Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
- Hersey
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Evart
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Sears
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Reed City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Avondale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Avondale is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avondale
- Gormer ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Gormer is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gormer
- Ashton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Ashton is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
- Hartwick ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Hartwick is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartwick
- Dewing's ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Dewing's is located in Osceola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dewing's
- Le Roy
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Mecosta, see our County-by-County Page for Mecosta.
Cemeteries Near Mecosta ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Mecosta.
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 Mecosta - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Mecosta covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Morgan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Indian Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Michael Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Morton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Dye Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stanwood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Wamboldt Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Martiny Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Rodney Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Altona Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (198 more) ...
- Olin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hinton Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Chippewa Twp. Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
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 Mecosta had a population of 472 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Mecosta had a population of 459 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Mecosta, with the one closest to Mecosta listed first.
- Remus
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sylvester
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sylvester is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvester
- Altona
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Altona is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altona
- Rodney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Rustford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rustford is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
- Chippewa Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Blanchard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Horr
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Horr is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horr
- Sherman City ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sherman City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
- Stanwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Borland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Borland is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- Lakeview
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Six Lakes
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Big Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Mecosta. See our List of 1890's Communities around Mecosta.
Newspapers Published in Mecosta ...
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 137 newspapers that have been published in the area around Mecosta.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Mecosta, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Mecosta.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Mecosta:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Mecosta County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clare County
- Gratiot County
- Isabella County
- Kent County
- Lake County
- Montcalm County
- Newaygo County
- Osceola 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> | 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 Mecosta, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Mecosta) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |