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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 Melvindale (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 Melvindale. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Melvindale is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Macomb, Monroe, Oakland & Washtenaw.

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

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Melvindale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melvindale, with the one closest to Melvindale listed first.
    • River Rouge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Dearborn
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Lincoln Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lincoln Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Park
      • Lincoln Park is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 36,066 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lincoln Park <1>
    • Allen Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Allen Park have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen Park
      • Allen Park is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,751 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Allen Park <1>
    • Springwells
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Ecorse
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Wyandotte
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Dearborn Heights
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dearborn Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dearborn Heights
      • Dearborn Heights is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 55,027 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dearborn Heights <1>
    • Southgate
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Southgate have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southgate
      • Southgate is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29,135 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Southgate <1>
    • Taylor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Taylor have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
      • Taylor is located in Wayne County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 60,576 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylor <1>
    • Inkster
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Detroit
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Livingston County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melvindale, with the one closest to Melvindale listed first.
    • Green Oak
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Green Oak. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Oak
      • Green Oak is located in Livingston County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Green Oak
      • From Melvindale to Green Oak
    • Whitmore Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Whitmore Lake have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitmore Lake
      • Whitmore Lake is located in Livingston County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Whitmore Lake <1>
  • Macomb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melvindale, with the one closest to Melvindale listed first.
    • Dalton Corners ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Van Dyke ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Van Dyke. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Dyke
      • Van Dyke is located in Macomb County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Van Dyke
      • From Melvindale to Van Dyke
    • Center Line
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Center Line have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Line
      • Center Line is located in Macomb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,090 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Center Line <1>
    • Warren
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Warren have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Warren is located in Macomb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 132,877 people
      • Warren has also been known as:
      • Cottageville
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Warren <1>
    • Eastpointe
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eastpointe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastpointe
      • Eastpointe is located in Macomb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 31,720 people
      • Former names for Eastpointe:
      • East Detroit
      • Half-Way
      • Halfway
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eastpointe <1>
    • Spinnings ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Spinnings. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spinnings
      • Spinnings is located in Macomb County
      • Spinnings has also been known as:
      • Spinning
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Spinnings
      • From Melvindale to Spinnings
    • Roseville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Eagle Poine ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Clair Shores
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Sterling Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sterling Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling Heights
      • Sterling Heights is located in Macomb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 131,709 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sterling Heights <1>
    • Fraser
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Fraser have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fraser
      • Fraser is located in Macomb County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,331 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fraser <1>
    • Cady ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melvindale, with the one closest to Melvindale listed first.
    • Flat Rock
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • South Rockwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for South Rockwood have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rockwood
      • South Rockwood is located in Monroe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,648 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for South Rockwood <1>
    • Carleton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Estral Beach
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Estral Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estral Beach
      • Estral Beach is located in Monroe County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Newport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Grafton ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Grafton. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton
      • Grafton is located in Monroe County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Grafton
      • From Melvindale to Grafton
    • Steiner
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Stony Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stony Point have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Point
      • Stony Point is located in Monroe County
    • Scofield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodland Beach
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Woodland Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Beach
      • Woodland Beach is located in Monroe County
    • Oakville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Detroit Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Oakland County
  • Washtenaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Melvindale, with the one closest to Melvindale listed first.
    • Rawsonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Willis
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Willis have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willis
      • Willis is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Willis <1>
    • Salem
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Ypsilanti
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Whittaker
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Dixboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Stony Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Emery
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Emery. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emery
      • Emery is located in Washtenaw County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Emery
      • From Melvindale to Emery
    • Ann Arbor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Pittsfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pittsfield. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
      • Pittsfield is located in Washtenaw County
      • Pittsfield has also been known as:
      • Pittsfield Village
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pittsfield
      • From Melvindale to Pittsfield
    • Barton Hills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Barton Hills have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Hills
      • Barton Hills is located in Washtenaw County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people

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

Cemeteries Near Melvindale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Melvindale.

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

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

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>

While we didn't find Melvindale in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Melvindale.

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

  • River Rouge
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Dearborn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Ecorse
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Delray
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delray have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delray
    • Delray is located in Wayne County
  • Wyandotte
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Taylor Center
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Taylor Center have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Center
    • Taylor Center is located in Wayne County
  • Inkster
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Sunnyside
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sunnyside have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
    • Sunnyside is located in Wayne County
  • Sibley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sibley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
    • Sibley is located in Wayne County
  • Oak
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak
    • Oak is located in Wayne County
  • Detroit
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Beech
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Beech. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech
    • Beech is located in Wayne County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Beech
    • From Melvindale to Beech
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Melvindale ...

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 557 newspapers that have been published in the area around Melvindale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Melvindale, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Melvindale.

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 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 Melvindale:

The official website for Melvindale: www.melvindale.org/

The official website for Wayne County: www.waynecounty.com/

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>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 Melvindale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Melvindale) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Melvindale. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 42.2819, Longitude: -83.1779    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025