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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 Newaygo (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 Newaygo. 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.

Name Variations for Newaygo ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

In past government published Postal Guides, Newaygo was referred to as Newaygo Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Newaygo. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Newaygo.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

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.

Newaygo is located in Newaygo 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 Newaygo County: Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oceana & Osceola.

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

  • Newaygo County     (The home county of Newaygo)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Newaygo, with the one closest to Newaygo listed first.
    • Bishop
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Grant
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Croton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Riverview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Wooster
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
    • Ashland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Sun
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Bridgeton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Brookside
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Fremont
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Fremont is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
      • Former name for Fremont:
      • Fremont Center
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
    • White Cloud
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Reeman
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Reeman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeman
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Newaygo, with the one closest to Newaygo listed first.
    • Casnovia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Kent City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Sand Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lisbon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Lisbon is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Sparta
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Cedar Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Edgerton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
    • Sheffield
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Sheffield is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Rockford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Harvard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Harvard is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Belmont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Comstock Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Lake County
    • Marlborough
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Marlborough is located in Lake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlborough
  • Mecosta County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Newaygo, with the one closest to Newaygo listed first.
    • Morley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Borland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Stanwood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rustford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
    • Big Rapids
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Canadian Lakes
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • Paris
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Rodney
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Halls Corner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Newaygo, with the one closest to Newaygo listed first.
    • Howard City
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Pierson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Amble
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
    • Coral
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Trufant
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Lakeview
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Gowen
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Langston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Newaygo, with the one closest to Newaygo listed first.
    • Bailey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Brunswick
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
    • Canada Corners
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Holton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Slocum
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Morgan Corners
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Ravenna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Twin Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Wolf Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Sullivan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Lakewood Club
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Lakewood Club is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Club
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,292 people
    • Dalton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Dalton is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
  • Oceana County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Newaygo, with the one closest to Newaygo listed first.
    • Hesperia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ferry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Ferry is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry
    • Walkerville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cobmoosa
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Cobmoosa is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobmoosa
      • Cobmoosa has also been known as:
      • Cob Moo Sa
    • Elbridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Elbridge is located in Oceana County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
    • Rothbury
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • New Era
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Newaygo, with the one closest to Newaygo listed first.
    • Conklin
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Wright
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Coopersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Marne
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Nunica
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Eastmanville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Lamont
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Spring Lake
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Newaygo ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Newaygo.

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

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

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

  • Newaygo City Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • St. Marks Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Parkview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Ashland Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Danish Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Croton Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Newago County Poor Farm Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Sherman Twp. Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Maple Grove Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (229 more) ...
    • Bridgeton Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Shippy Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Seamans Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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 Newaygo had a population of 1,330 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Newaygo had a population of 2,099 people.

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

  • Grant
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Ashland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
  • Sun
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Sun is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
  • Croton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Croton is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
  • Bridgeton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
  • Alleyton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Alleyton is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleyton
  • Fremont
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Fremont is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
    • Former name for Fremont:
    • Fremont Center
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
  • Brookside
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
  • Bailey
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • White Cloud
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Big Prairie
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Big Prairie is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Prairie
  • Aetna
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Aetna is located in Newaygo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
  • Continue List   (18 more) ...
    • Casnovia
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Kent City
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Holton
      (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 Newaygo. See our List of 1890's Communities around Newaygo.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Newaygo ...

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 64 newspapers that have been published in the area around Newaygo.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

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

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 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 Newaygo:

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 Newaygo, 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' (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- Newaygo) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.